Government’s big disclosure on E20 petrol, no evidence found of engine damage even after use in 23 crore vehicles

Ethanol Blending Policy Government Reply: It has been seen across the country that there is a long-running debate regarding E20 petrol. In which many vehicle owners have a question in their mind that does petrol with 20% ethanol harm the engine? Regarding which now the Central Government has clarified the position on this issue in the Rajya Sabha. Regarding this matter, the government says that crores of vehicles in the country are using E20 petrol, but till now no evidence of engine damage or vehicle stalling has come to light.

Let us tell you that Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi told in the Rajya Sabha on Monday that more than 23 crore vehicles in India are using E20 petrol. These include more than 20 crore two-wheelers and more than 3 crore petrol cars. The special thing is that among these there are a large number of old vehicles which were not officially certified for E20.

E20 petrol was implemented only after scientific testing

In this matter, the government clarified that E20 petrol has not been implemented suddenly. It started with blending of only 1.53% ethanol in 2013-14. After several years of scientific testing, expert opinion and a phased process, it was increased to 20% in 2025-26. Not only this, according to the government, lab tests, on-road tests and long-term driving were conducted at every level. NITI Aayog, ARAI, SIAM, Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), oil companies and vehicle manufacturers participated in this entire process. During the test, many aspects like engine strength, fuel system, possibility of rust, mileage, pollution and vehicle performance were examined.

Does E20 reduce mileage? The government replied

While replying, the government also cited the service data of vehicle companies. In which a major car manufacturer serviced 2.84 crore vehicles in the financial year 2025-26, which included about 1.5 crore old vehicles. The company has said that no damage was confirmed to any vehicle due to E20 petrol. At the same time, a big two-wheeler company also said that no cases of additional defects have been found in vehicles using E20.

But the government admitted that the mileage of some old vehicles made on E10 petrol may be reduced by 3% to 5%. Despite this, E20’s better octane reduces engine knocking, helps the fuel burn more cleanly, and keeps the engine running smoother.

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Currently there are no plans to bring E30

For the times to come, the government also made it clear that no decision has been taken yet to implement ethanol blending more than E20. If blending with E30 or more is considered in the future, it will be preceded by scientific studies, technical trials and extensive discussions with all concerned, including automobile companies. Also, there is no plan to make petrol without ethanol or less ethanol available at petrol pumps. Regarding this, the government says that its objective is to promote environment-friendly and clean fuel.