New Delhi: The government may not immediately mandate higher levels of ethanol blending but leave it to buyers to decide on flex fuel vehicles, amid concerns that the rush from E20 to E25 will damage the engines of existing vehicles.Most cars and 2-wheelers manufactured between 2012 and March 2023 were designed or certified to be E10-compliant, while cars produced from April 2023 onwards are E20 content-compliant, meaning they are designed to handle petrol blended with 20% ethanol. But only vehicles sold from April 2025 are fully E20-compliant. The government is also preparing standards for E22, E25, E27 and E30, allowing up to 30% ethanol in petrol. Additionally, it is starting testing for E25 vehicles, which will take time.
More ethanol blending will affect mileage: Expert
But there are concerns about accelerating the process, especially given the number of vehicles on the road before 2025.Auto industry officials and experts said that since most of the existing petrol vehicles are not fully content and fuel compatible even with E20 fuel, any mandatory increase in ethanol blending will not only reduce mileage but also increase maintenance costs for such vehicles, affecting a large section of vehicle owners.However, the industry is gearing up to launch flex fuel vehicles, with Maruti Suzuki and Hero MotoCorp hitting the road and others preparing their launch plans. The auto industry has advocated balancing the increase in the mix, which is a politically attractive proposition in states where sugarcane production is high. Apart from this, the powerful Chinese lobby is also in its favor.According to Niti Aayog’s 2021 report on the E20 roadmap, vehicles designed for E10 and calibrated for E20 are likely to see a 1-2% reduction in fuel efficiency, though users claim the actual drop in mileage is higher. Therefore, vehicles manufactured before March 2023 will experience greater mileage loss if higher ethanol blending is mandated.Officials involved in preparing the report said any phased move beyond mandatory 20% ethanol blending in petrol would require upgrades in vehicle technology. “In such a situation, it would be better to promote the adoption of flex-fuel vehicles, which can run on both E20 and higher ethanol blends, rather than introducing multiple grades of mandatory blending. Otherwise, vehicle engines will need to be modified to accommodate different grades of mixed fuel,” said an expert.Experts also said the best option before the government is to provide separate dispensers for E20 and high-blend petrol at fuel stations, giving vehicle owners the freedom to choose the most suitable fuel for their vehicles. He said the government has partially addressed the concerns by fixing the price of E85 fuel in Delhi at Rs 82.12 per litre.
