New Delhi: Petrol blended with 20% ethanol (E20) may reduce fuel efficiency by 2% to 6% depending on the category and age of the vehicle, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed Parliament on Thursday. However, he maintained that extensive testing has found no evidence of engine failures caused by E20 fuel.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Gadkari said tests conducted on engine durability using dynamometers and on-road vehicle trials did not reveal any failures attributable to E20 petrol. He added that the fuel offers better acceleration, improved ride quality and nearly 30% lower carbon emissions compared to E10 fuel.
The minister said the impact of E20 on BS-III, BS-IV and BS-VI petrol-powered two-wheelers and four-wheelers was studied jointly by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL). The assessment included standard certification tests as well as customised protocols developed in consultation with vehicle manufacturers.
While acknowledging a possible reduction in mileage, Gadkari said the fuel efficiency of vehicles may decline by 2% to 6% depending on their category and vintage. He reiterated that no engine failures were observed during laboratory or real-world testing.
The rollout of E20 petrol has faced criticism from opposition parties and consumer groups, who have raised concerns about its compatibility with older vehicles, possible maintenance costs and liability in case of engine or fuel system damage.
Responding to these concerns, Gadkari said the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme has been implemented in a phased and scientifically validated manner with the involvement of NITI Aayog, oil marketing companies, automobile manufacturers and technical institutions, including ARAI, SIAM and the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP).
He noted that India launched the EBP programme as a pilot in 2001, introduced E5 fuel in 2006 and has gradually increased ethanol blending after building the necessary infrastructure and production capacity. According to the minister, E15+ fuel has been in widespread use for over three-and-a-half years, while E19-E20 blends have been used for more than two-and-a-half years.
Gadkari said over 20 crore two-wheelers and more than 3 crore petrol cars have operated on ethanol-blended fuel without any verified evidence of widespread engine failure or vehicle breakdown linked to ethanol blending. He added that vehicle manufacturers continue to honour warranty claims for vehicles using E20 fuel, while service data has not shown any abnormal corrosion, wear or reduction in vehicle lifespan.
