Hubbali: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has confirmed that using ethanol-blended petrol (EBP) in vehicles does not cause any compatibility problems, major performance changes or unusual wear and tear, reports Deccan Herald.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, the ministry said an inter-ministerial committee was formed after media reports and social media posts raised concerns about the use of E20 fuel. The panel examined issues related to vehicle compatibility and mileage.
Studies conducted by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) based on extensive field trials showed no negative effects or compatibility issues with E20.
Concerns have frequently been voiced by experts and the public that vehicles may not be suitable for ethanol blending, leading to reduced mileage, repeated repairs and a shorter vehicle life. But government agencies have rejected these claims.
The ministry said that even older vehicles “do not show any major changes in performance or abnormal wear when using E20 fuel. No issues were reported in areas such as drivability, steerability, or the compatibility of metal and plastic components.”
Findings from ARAI, SIAM and the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry also noted that E20 fuel improves acceleration, enhances ride quality and cuts carbon emissions by about 30% compared to E10. The report stated that ethanol’s higher heat of vaporization lowers intake temperatures, which increases air-fuel mixture density and improves efficiency.
Deepak Ballani, Director General of the Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), said Indian vehicles have been voluntarily compliant with ethanol use since 2009. “Neither oil companies nor vehicle manufacturers have reported any malfunction linked to ethanol-blended fuel. Various industries are conducting studies, and none have shown negative results,” he said. He added that mileage may drop slightly — by about 2% to 4% — which is minimal when compared with the benefits to farmers and foreign exchange savings. For example, a car delivering 15 km per litre of petrol might deliver around 14.8 km per litre with E20, he said.
According to the government, the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme has enabled payments of ₹1.36 lakh crore to farmers for ethanol supplied between 2014-15 and October 2025. It also helped save ₹1.55 lakh crore in foreign exchange through ethanol derived from sugarcane and food grains. The use of E10 and E20 has reduced nearly 790 lakh metric tonnes of carbon dioxide and 260 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil consumption.
As of October, India has achieved an average ethanol blending rate of 19.97% in petrol. The target for the next decade is to reach 30% blending.
