E20, EV also… what is the government's plan, why is work on both being done simultaneously?

E20, EV also… what is the government's plan, why is work on both being done simultaneously?

by with No Comment Car Review

New Delhi. India's transport sector is currently going through a major transformation, based on two different paths to clean-mobility. The first path is of E20 petrol (petrol mixed with 20 percent ethanol) and the second is of battery operated electric vehicles (EVs). Current national policy sees these as a sequential, 'twin-track' strategy rather than a choice between the two.

In this strategy, E20 fuel is serving as an immediate relief means for energy security, while electric vehicles are positioned as the ultimate long-term solution to reduce carbon emissions. The recent fluctuations in the global energy market have further heightened the need for this dual approach, as India imports about 85 percent of its crude oil needs from abroad, which always puts economic pressure on the country.

E20 got big success in a short time

The introduction of E20 petrol in the country has been a huge success in a very short time. India completely shifted its domestic fuel supply to E20 petrol much ahead of its legal schedule. Due to this swift step, there has been a huge reduction in the expenditure on import of crude oil, due to which the country has saved foreign exchange of more than Rs 1.4 lakh crore. Additionally, this policy has provided a strong economic support to the agriculture sector as surplus sugarcane, maize and spoiled grains are being diverted for ethanol production, directly benefiting the farmers.

However, despite these huge economic benefits, there are some practical challenges to a mandatory E20 rollout on the ground. The biggest concern for consumers is the slight drop in vehicle mileage, as ethanol has a lower energy density per liter than pure petrol. According to automotive laboratories, depending on the engine calibration, the use of E20 fuel can result in a slight reduction in mileage of 3 percent to 6 percent. Additionally, vehicles manufactured after April 2023 are fully compatible with this fuel, but it may have adverse effects on parts of older vehicles as ethanol naturally absorbs moisture, which can cause normal rubber gaskets, hoses and fuel line seals to deteriorate quickly.

Electric vehicles: the challenge of high-capital infrastructure

On the other hand, moving towards electric vehicles meets the goal of zero-emission in the long run, but it requires huge capital investment. The pace of adoption of EVs in urban areas has increased rapidly due to government efforts like PM E-DRIVE scheme and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) for Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage. The tax structure of the government is also a big help in this, while a huge GST of 28 percent is applicable on conventional petrol-diesel vehicles, whereas a low GST rate of only 5 percent is applicable on electric vehicles.

Despite this, some major structural bottlenecks remain in the EV sector. Although local assembly for electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers has been successfully integrated in the country, the supply chain for manufacturing the most critical component, i.e. battery cells, is still highly dependent on imported refined minerals. Additionally, the speed of the public charging network still lags far behind vehicle sales, especially in smaller cities (Tier-2 and Tier-3), leading to range anxiety. Grid capacity limitations and the lack of a unified, interoperable charging payment card also make its use difficult for non-commercial users.

Alignment of market reality and policy

According to projections from economic and transportation models, petrol consumption in India may reach its peak around early 2032, after which it will start declining due to mass electrification. Therefore, these timelines need to be balanced very carefully in long-term policy planning. Planning to add excessive capacity for ethanol distilleries beyond current requirements could turn that investment into stranded capital assets over the next two decades.

The strategic need for India is not to choose between E20 and electric mobility, but to manage their different life cycles properly. E20 fuel serves as a vital transitional bridge to provide immediate carbon reduction and financial relief from the existing conventional vehicle fleet. Additionally, the country will need to continue to aggressively expand domestic battery cell manufacturing and charging infrastructure, so that when the liquid fuel market shrinks in the future, India is well prepared to move towards a mature electric mobility ecosystem.

(Originally written by: Pathikrit Sen Gupta)

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Will E20 petrol damage the car engine? Must read for BS3 and BS4 car owners

Will E20 petrol damage the car engine? Must read for BS3 and BS4 car owners

by with No Comment Car Review

After the widespread use of E20 petrol (20% ethanol blended) started in India, the debate in the automobile world has intensified. Many videos and posts on social media are claiming that the engines of old cars will get damaged, there will be a huge drop in mileage and the fuel system will get damaged. But are these claims true? The answer is – it is not completely correct, but some problems have definitely arisen!

The purpose of E20 is to reduce oil imports, increase farmers' income and reduce pollution. Ethanol acts as an oxygenate, which keeps the combustion clean. However, questions are being raised on the compatibility of the fuel system in pre-2022 (especially pre-BS4) vehicles. In this article we will try to know the whole truth on the basis of scientific facts, engineering principles and workshop experience.

What is ethanol and why is it added to fuel?

Ethanol is an alcohol mainly produced from sugarcane or corn. The main reason for mixing it in petrol is to increase oxygen, which helps in better combustion of the fuel. This reduces harmful emissions and reduces dependence on fossil fuels.

Ethanol is preferred in motorsport because it has a higher octane rating, lower combustion temperatures and easier tuning. E10 was being used in India for a long time, now E20 has become standard.

How does the engine work?

Every engine has a perfect air-fuel ratio (AFR). For pure petrol (E0) it is 14.7:1. For pure ethanol it is about 9:1. The AFR changes in the E20 blend, causing the ECU to slightly increase the amount of fuel. If the ECU does not adjust, the engine may lean (run on less fuel), causing temperatures to rise. But modern vehicles are capable of dealing with this problem.

BS4 or newer petrol cars have closed-loop fueling, oxygen sensors and an ECU that can adjust the injector pulse. Most ECUs make fuel corrections up to ±20%. E20 comes easily in this range. For example, in Brazil, E25-E27 have been running in common cars for years without any major problems.

BS4 standard had already made preparations for E10. Features ethanol-resistant hoses, seals and pumps. Headroom is always kept in engineering, so most BS4+ cars can be considered safe for E20.

Is 20% more fuel injected than E20?

no way. Pure ethanol contains about 34% less energy than petrol. E20 requires 6-7% more fuel than E0 (only 2-3% more than E10). The ECU handles this easily. The claims of 30-50% mileage drop are simply wrong. The actual decline may be around 2-3%.

Myth of Melting Rubber Fuel Line

Ethanol can affect old natural rubber or cheap hoses. But after 2010, most companies use resistant materials like FKM or NBR. BS4 has strengthened these changes. Due to engineering tolerances, E20 or even E30 is safe in most cases, unless your car is an older carbureted car.

Problem of clogged injectors

Deposits build up slowly in the injectors. These can malfunction due to bad fuel, short drives or carelessness. E20 also has a cleaning effect, which dissolves varnish and carbon. It works the same way as expensive fuel system cleaners. In poorly maintained vehicles, old deposits can loosen and cause temporary problems, but in regularly maintained vehicles this is beneficial.

Water separation: the real problem

Ethanol is hygroscopic, that is, it absorbs moisture. Phase separation in E20 can occur at 0.4% water, but it takes 3-5 weeks. This problem can occur in an unused, humid and empty vehicle. Fuel keeps circulating in daily running vehicles, hence the problem is less.

What problems can arise?

  • Slight 2-3% drop in mileage.
  • Slight problem in cold start in very cold weather.

The case of BS3 and carbureted cars

The material in BS3 vehicles is less tolerant. Hoses, seals and pumps can wear out rapidly over a long period of time. Carbureted engines run lean due to fixed jets, which can cause hesitation, poor starting and overheating. There is a high risk of corrosion in storage.

What to do BS3 Honors?

  1. Install ethanol-resistant hoses/seals (FKM/NBR).
  2. Richer re-jet the carb.
  3. Check/replace pump diaphragm and seals.
  4. Use stabilizer in storage, do not keep E20 for long periods.
  5. Clean jets/injectors regularly.
  6. Keep an eye on drivability.

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Will Mahindra's car be spoiled by E20 petrol? The company itself told the whole truth

Will Mahindra's car be spoiled by E20 petrol? The company itself told the whole truth

by with No Comment Car Review

Last Updated:

Can E20 petrol harm the engine of your Mahindra car? For the first time, the company has clarified its position in detail on this question. Mahindra says that all its petrol vehicles are safe on E20 fuel, while models manufactured after April 1, 2025 have been specially optimized for this. What changes can be felt in old models and how much will be the impact on mileage, read the full report.

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Mahindra has given an official statement regarding E20 fuel.

Mahindra & Mahindra has given a clear answer to the questions being raised regarding E20 fuel and said that all the petrol vehicles of the company can run safely on E20 fuel. The company has given this information through official social media post and customer care email. However, models manufactured after April 1, 2025 have been specially calibrated for E20, which will provide better acceleration and fuel efficiency.

There is concern among many vehicle owners amid the promotion of E20 petrol (20% ethanol blend). Mahindra has confirmed that older models (manufactured before April 1, 2025) are also completely safe on E20, but they may experience slight differences in performance or mileage. This statement has come at a time when many videos regarding E20 are going viral on social media.

Mahindra's official statement

In response to a customer's query, Mahindra said through customer care email, 'Mahindra engines are in full compliance with the current gasoline standards and all our vehicles can be safely run on E20 fuel.' This statement is bigger than the company's official tweet, which only mentioned E20-compliant vehicles.

These vehicles are out of danger

The company clarified that the vehicles launched in the market after April 1, 2025 have been specially calibrated for E20 fuel. In this, acceleration and fuel efficiency have been optimized. At the same time, owners of vehicles manufactured before this may experience some performance problems (like slightly less acceleration or mileage), but there will be no harm to the engine. This difference also depends on the driving style.

Mileage has decreased!

E20 has slightly less energy than E10, due to which there may be a slight reduction in mileage. This was also accepted by Mahindra and many other companies (Maruti, Toyota, Hyundai, Hero) in the recent government press conference. Toyota had blamed the viral Innova Hycross issue on bad fuel rather than E20.

This clarification from Mahindra is important amid the ongoing debate regarding E20. The government is promoting E20 as an eco-friendly option, while auto companies are continuously increasing communications to reassure owners of older vehicles. Mahindra stressed that all the vehicles have been tested on E20 and there was no significant impact on their performance.

About the Author

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Ram Mohan MishraSenior Sub Editor

Ram Mohan Mishra, working as Senior Sub-Editor at News18 Hindi, is active in digital media since 2021 and is currently handling the Auto Desk. They provide car and bike related information in an easy, clear and reliable manner.read more

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10 big rumors spread about E20 Petrol! Know what is the whole truth

10 big rumors spread about E20 Petrol! Know what is the whole truth

by with No Comment Car Review

Last Updated:

Many claims related to water, engine damage, mileage, warranty and farmers have been going viral on social media regarding E20 petrol. But government documents, clarifications from ARAI, SIAM and oil companies present a different picture of these claims. After all, which things are true and which are just rumours? In this report, read the fact check of 10 big myths related to E20 in simple language and know what is the reality.

Myth of water consumption (myth of 10,000 litres): It is being claimed on social media that 10,000 liters of water is consumed to make 1 liter of ethanol, which is completely wrong. The reality is that only 3 to 5 liters of water is used per liter in the ethanol plant. Farmers grow paddy and wheat not for ethanol, but for government procurement (MSP). The surplus rice and maize left after national food security is used for ethanol. (AI image)

Claim of untested experiment: The claim that E20 is a risky experiment being conducted on the citizens of India is false. Ethanol has been in use around the world for more than a century, and even a 1908 Ford Model T could run on it. E10 is standard fuel in America and E27 is mandatory in Brazil. India's E20 program is completely in line with global standards. (AI image)

Rumor of huge drop in mileage: The claim that E20 reduces the mileage of vehicles drastically is misleading. ARAI's rigorous tests of 40,000 km on cars and 20,000 km on two-wheelers showed no significant negative impact on mileage. In contrast, ethanol's higher octane (108.5 RON) gives vehicles better acceleration and ride quality. (AI image)

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Fear of engine damage and corrosion: The claim on social media that E20 damages engine parts is wrong. A special study by ARAI conducted by the government found that there is no problem in the vehicles' drivability, starting or metal and plastic compatibility. Only in some old vehicles the rubber parts may need to be replaced a little more frequently. Also, this results in a huge reduction in pollution. (AI image)

Rumor of cancellation of insurance and warranty: This claim is completely false that car companies will refuse to give warranty or insurance claim if E20 fuel is used. SIAM and vehicle manufacturers have clarified that the use of E20 fuel with prescribed standards will not affect warranty or insurance. PIB Fact Check had also refuted this misleading news on 16 June 2026. (AI image)

Ants and bees on the fuel cap: The claim that ants and bees are attracted to the petrol tank due to the sugar in E20 is completely scientifically baseless. According to BPCL's investigation, the remaining sugar is completely destroyed in the distillation process of making ethanol. Ethanol contains denaturants which keep insects away and the smell of petrol dominates. (AI image)

The lie of the government calling it an 'experiment' in the Supreme Court: The claim that the government has told the Supreme Court that E20 is an 'experiment' to be reviewed next year is false. Actually, that court case was only related to ethanol purchase contracts and allocation process. The Attorney General's Office clarified on June 30, 2026 that the government has never called E20 an 'experiment' in court. (AI image)

Problem of water getting into the fuel tank: The claim that E20 fuel causes water to accumulate in the tanks of vehicles is wrong. According to the Ministry of Petroleum (MoP&NG), it is wrong to add water to any fuel. The underground tanks of modern vehicles and petrol pumps have elaborate safety measures like silica gel traps, special gaskets and sealants to prevent water from entering. (AI image)

Fake videos of mixing sugarcane juice in petrol: The videos going viral on social media are completely fake and misleading, in which sugarcane juice is directly mixed in petrol and the petrol is shown separating. The Petroleum Ministry has clarified that the ethanol found in fuel is prepared under strict industrial standards. Ethanol mixed petrol never separates at normal temperatures. (AI image)

Myth that ethanol plants harm the environment and farmers: The claim that ethanol plants harm the environment is false. Modern plants run on Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) technology and have to obtain stringent environmental clearances. Through this program, the country has saved more than Rs 1.90 lakh crore of foreign exchange and more than Rs 1.60 lakh crore has been paid to the farmers. (AI image)

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Ethanol will assess the ethanol combination scheme before setting high targets: Tel Min Puri

Ethanol will assess the ethanol combination scheme before setting high targets: Tel Min Puri

by with No Comment car updates

By: Sameer Fij Contractor
, updated on: 17 September 2025, 13:06 pm

The statement comes between the Baclash from the vehicle owners on the E20 fuel harmful engines, reducing fuel efficiency and there is no decrease in fuel prices.

All fuel stations across the country are now retail petrol with 20 percent ethanol mixture, which has promoted backlash from vehicle owners on low efficiency and high wear and tears.

For Central Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, the Union Minister has said that the government will “assess” the ethanol combination program before setting high targets. The statement comes between the Baclash from the vehicle owners on the E20 fuel harmful engines, reducing fuel efficiency and there is no decrease in fuel prices. While the government has said that 20 percent of the ethanol mixed with petrol is safe to use environmentally, vehicle users otherwise believe.

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No plans to jump for high mixed ethanol fuel: Puri

Speaking in an incident recently, Puri said, “We had a target of 20 percent conclusion – for which the target date was 2030, and we have done it six years ago. I will put a full break there; we will assess where we have to go. You hear all the stories that we are going to learn now, etc.

He added, “All stories that you hear about bio fuel, are harmful to the engine, a lot of 'BS' – 'B' Capital, 'S' are capital. And I don't know what it means, but it is a special.”

There were reports of the government's plan to go to 27 percent ethanol mixture in petrol. A recent report also suggested that the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) was directed to come up with criteria for E27 fuel on priority. Now it seems that the plan to introduce it for the same time will be delayed.

Hardeep Singh Puri
Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that all stories call biofuels harmful (PTI)

The government has made the use of E20 petrol mandatory in all fuel pumps across the country, which has promoted backlash from vehicle users. Motor drivers have complained about fuel damage to engine, with increased wear and tear due to corrosive nature of ethanol. Vehicle owners have fallen by 15–20 percent in fuel efficiency on older vehicles, which were not designed to run on E20 fuel. In contrast, the government claims that the decline in fuel efficiency is just 1-2 percent.

There are questions about the impact of ethanol at the price of fuel, and there is no decrease in fuel prices despite the high ethanol mixture. Fuel prices have been largely stable in the last three years.

There are also concerns about the production of ethanol, which requires water-intensive crops. However, the government says that 20 percent ethanol extract from sugarcane or maize is a national program aimed at cutting emissions and increasing the income of farmers.

Bio fuel required to reduce dependence on oil imports

Puri said that the percentage of mixed ethanol in petrol in 2014 was 1.4 percent. It has increased to 20 percent in the last decade. The Ministry of Oil has also rejected the apprehensions about the use of E20, calling the claims baseless. Puri said that some older vehicles may need to replace some rubber parts and gaskets, it may be called a “simple process”.

The government has been vocal about the plan to introduce a high mixture of ethanol in fuel to reduce dependence on crude oil imports. Puri said that India is 88 percent dependent on imports to meet its oil needs, bio fuel and cleaner energy is called “imperatives of that time”.

Get insight into state -of -the -art technology changing upcoming cars, electric vehicles, bikes in India and automotive landscape.

First published date: 17 September 2025, 13:06 pm IST

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E20 Petrol: Good, Bad and Better. Conclusion from a real study

E20 Petrol: Good, Bad and Better. Conclusion from a real study

by with No Comment car updates

As we have already reported, automobile engineers working with various major vehicle manufacturers have already accepted that the E20 fuel will cause fuel efficiency fall between two to five percent on the basis of vehicles. He has also admitted that various components of vehicles are at risk of damage, but it will be in long periods, not immediately.

Meanwhile, no vehicle manufacturer has come up with facts or realistic conclusions of the effect of E20. This has further increased the concern of the vehicle owners. Meanwhile, a Bangalore -based vehicle tuning company Hormonixx Tuning has come up with its conclusions, which explains the impact of E20 in a detailed manner.

Since October 2020, the firm has claimed to have a large -scale ethanol mixed fuel testing. According to him, if you are the owner of a car produced after 2015 and it is fuel-injected, there is nothing to worry about. It comes into contradiction with the notion that widely spread that vehicles manufactured after 2023 are unsafe to see damage in their important powertrain components. In addition, no one is paying attention to the fact that E20 is not being sold at fuel stations around us suddenly. The only ruckus is that the government has announced that India has achieved the target of E20 five years before the original time limit of 2030. The reality is that ethanol mixed petrol has been sold across the country for a long time. Ethanol material in motor fuel is gradually increased.

Petrol sold in India before 2021 was jointly jointly to help identify other adatives such as injector cleaner, octane booster, dye with fuel, detergent, etc., while the Central Government's proposal to mix ethanol in petrol was started in September 2002, once started after Ethi Alcohol. The first ethanol mixture recorded in India was with power 99, with E07-E08 (seven to eight percent ethanol mixture) and XP95 at the end of 2022, which was E05 in April 2023.

Now, except for history and timelines, let's come to the advantages and disadvantages of ethanol mixed petrol.

Ethanol mixed petrol: What's good about it?

While the government is lobbying for ethanol combination and cited several reasons including low import bills, low dependence on crude oil and low cost of fuel, let's focus only on technical aspects, not economic.

There may not be regular fuel for ethanol vehicles, as we know in India so far, but it has some advantages that are mixed in petrol. Ethanol has much more research octane number (RON) rating compared to petrol. Due to additional ron, ethanol has high knock resistance than regular petrol. It also helps in reducing the emissions of the charge temperature, carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC). It helps reduce soot formation, which is a deep black powder or flawed substance with large -scale unaccredited carbon, which is produced by incomplete burns of organic materials.

Ethanol mixed petrol: What about it?

It is not that ethanol has only advantages, but using mixed petrol with it also comes with lots of disadvantages. Ethanol has a very low energy density than regular petrol. This means, you need to burn about 33 percent more fuel to achieve the same power, which is why you are seeing a decline in your vehicle's fuel efficiency. Using E10 fuel and in terms of E20, this fuel economy may fall between three to four percent, it can be between six to eight percent depending on several factors.

In older vehicles, materials used for most non-fuel-injected, rubber hoses, gaskets, seals, etc., may not be as durable as later due to the use of E20. In such cases, vehicle owners must choose the option of replacement of those parts. However, with the aging of the vehicle, replacement of different parts is common anyway, as they become brittle over time. It is without cares or whether pure petrol is used or fuel is mixed.

Another major disadvantage of ethanol is its hygroscopic nature, which means it can absorb moisture or water. If the ethanol-mixed fuel comes in contact with water, the ethanol completely mixes with water. If the water enters the engine, piston can compress ethanol but cannot compress the water. In this way there may be a hydrock. However, hydrolrocking is extremely rare.

Ethanol can cause trouble when starting the engine in a very cold climate. However, this can happen when the engine is being run on high ethanol mixtures, such as more than E50. In most parts of India, such a temperature is not common. In addition, India has just reached 20 percent fuel combination threshold.

E20 Petrol: Which engines can run safely on it?

Almost all naturally aspirated petrol engine (Post -2018).

If you are the owner of a car that is more than 2015, it is already a decade old, meaning that you should do preventive maintenance anyway. These include injector replacement, fuel filters and fuel pump changes, as well as the place of hoses, gaskets and seals, which will wear naturally over time. The tuning firm claims that almost all naturally aspirated petrol engines built after 2015 can run safely on E20 fuel.

Just make sure that you maintain maintenance by the vehicle manufacturer. Also, practice preventive maintenance if necessary. Some of preventive maintenance include changing engine oil every 4,000 km when using mineral oil. In case of synthetic oil, replace oil every 7,500–8,000 km. Also, change spark plugs after every 15,000–20,000 km every 15,000–20,000 km.

E20 Petrol: Should you be worried?

The tuning firm claims that if the car is manufactured after 2015 and it is fuel-injected, there is nothing to worry. The ECU of the vehicle is smart sufficient to adjust fuel trims accordingly, and will maintain the air -complex ratio (AFR), it has been programmed for the target.

Social media propagation is just – publicity. The affects are telling you the negative aspects of E20 and ethanol, possibly there is no technical knowledge about the internal combustion engine (Ice). Using E20, your engine cannot die. The only real negative side is a decline in fuel efficiency.

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First published date: 25 August 2025, 13:55 pm IST

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