In some vehicles, E20 petrol can reduce fuel efficiency by 2% to 6%: Nitin Gadkari

Petrol blended with 20% ethanol (E20) can reduce fuel efficiency by around 2% to 6% in vehicles designed for petrol containing 10% ethanol (E10), the Union government informed Parliament on Thursday.

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said that studies conducted by government agencies and automobile manufacturers found that the extent of the reduction in mileage depends on factors such as driving conditions, driving habits and vehicle maintenance, Scroll.in reported.

He said tests assessing engine durability, drivability, startability, corrosion resistance and material compatibility had established that E20 fuel is safe for use when it meets prescribed standards.

According to Gadkari, over 20 crore two-wheelers and more than three crore petrol cars have been operating on ethanol-blended fuel without any verified evidence of widespread engine failures or breakdowns linked to ethanol blending.

The minister was responding to questions on the impact of the Ethanol Blended Petrol programme on consumers, automobile manufacturers and the transport sector.

He said the programme was introduced in phases following consultations with automobile manufacturers, oil marketing companies, ethanol producers and other stakeholders.

Gadkari also cited data from an automobile manufacturer, which serviced 2.8 crore vehicles during the 2025-26 financial year, including around 1.5 crore older vehicles, and reported no E20-related engine damage, unusual corrosion or reduction in component life. He added that a leading two-wheeler manufacturer had similarly found no increase in damage in vehicles operating on E20 fuel.

Replying to another question on fuel prices, Gadkari said the ethanol blending programme had helped protect consumers from steep increases in global crude oil prices during the recent conflict in West Asia. He claimed that while international crude prices had risen by around 70% to 80% since February, domestic fuel prices increased by only 7% to 8%.

The minister said petrol prices could have reached around Rs 125 per litre during the peak of the West Asia crisis, but consumers continued to pay about Rs 94.7 per litre because oil marketing companies were able to procure ethanol at around Rs 70 per litre. He added that replacing a portion of imported petrol with domestically produced ethanol had reduced India's exposure to fluctuations in global crude oil prices and exchange rates.

India achieved its target of blending 20% ethanol with petrol in July 2025, five years ahead of schedule, and the government now mandates the sale of E20 fuel. The initiative is part of the country's broader energy transition strategy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, lower greenhouse gas emissions and increase incomes for sugarcane farmers.

However, some consumers have alleged that the higher ethanol blend has reduced vehicle mileage and caused engine-related issues. An opinion poll by LocalCircles published on July 5 found that 53% of surveyed petrol vehicle owners considered the government's rollout of E20 fuel either "disastrous" or "ineffective."