Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday said any move to introduce E25 petrol – a blend of 25% ethanol with petrol – is under evaluation, and the government has not taken any decision on its rollout.
Speaking in New Delhi, Puri said that the ongoing trials would need to be completed and their findings discussed with automakers and other stakeholders before considering any changes beyond the current E20 blend, ANI reported.
The clarification comes amid continued backlash against E20, the 20% ethanol blend that has become India’s default petrol grade. Commuters and opposition politicians – including Karnataka Congress chief BK Hariprasad and Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal – have said the fuel has reduced mileage and increased repair costs, and questioned why pump prices have not fallen despite the blend being cheaper than pure petrol.
Citing extensive testing by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and car manufacturers, the government has said E20 is safe for compliant vehicles.
What are biofuels?
Biofuels are made from biomass, usually from crops such as corn, sugarcane, soybeans and palm oil, rather than fossil fuels such as oil. In the transportation sector, they are blended into fuel as a cleaner-burning option, although they can also be used for power generation, heating, and aviation.
Ethanol is made by fermenting sugars or starches from corn and sugarcane using yeast, before being distilled to fuel-grade purity.
Where has India reached in its ethanol blending programme?
The Center achieved the target of 20% ethanol blending (E20) in petrol by the end of 2025, five years ahead of its original schedule. It started in 2014 with 1.5%. From April 1 this year, India has launched E20 at all pumps in the country.
Also read: Ethanol blending into fuel: what Brazil does, and where other countries stand
What does E20 petrol really mean?
E20 means petrol which contains 80% petrol and 20% ethanol. Similarly,
- E10 = 10% ethanol, 90% petrol
- E85 = 85% ethanol, 15% petrol
- E100 = almost 100% ethanol
Does E20 reduce mileage, damage cars?
The higher ethanol content is slightly less energy-dense than gasoline, meaning the vehicle can drive fewer miles per gallon. The reduction in mileage depends on the percentage content of ethanol, for example, E5 may have less impact on mileage compared to E15, E20, E85, etc.
The government has said the decline in mileage is minor, India’s ethanol blending program is tried and tested, and does not harm E20 compliant vehicles.
Can a traveler get 100% petrol instead of E20?
There is currently no retail option to purchase completely ethanol-free petrol across India.
Which cars are E20 compatible in India?
From April 1, 2023, all cars manufactured in India are required to be E20 compliant as per government norms. But there may be some that are assembled in India that are not equipped to run on E20.
How can you check if your vehicle is E20 compliant?
Most manufacturers print E20 compatibility on a sticker near the fuel tank cap, and list it under the fuel specifications section of the owner’s manual. Where neither of these are available, dealerships and authorized service centers can confirm compatibility using the vehicle’s registration number or chassis number.
As a general rule, cars manufactured after April 2023 are considered E20 compliant.
Also read: ‘Will the company give compensation if…’: Kejriwal’s letter to Maruti, Toyota and Hero on E20 fuel policy
Which cars can run on E85 or E100?
Only flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs), which are specifically designed for higher ethanol blends, can use E85 or E100.
There are only a few vehicles in India which are FFVs. These include some models of Hero MotoCorp and Maruti Suzuki’s flex-fuel WagonR. Toyota, Hyundai, MG and Suzuki are expected to introduce more E20 compatible models.
What are the benefits of using biofuels?
The government says the program improves India’s energy security by reducing dependence on imported crude oil. It also said the program has cut carbon emissions, boosted farmers’ income by creating a new market for crops such as sugarcane, maize and surplus rice and saved foreign exchange.
According to a statement by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on July 5, the program has so far saved ₹Generate foreign exchange of Rs 1.90 lakh crore and above ₹Farmers’ additional earnings from 2014-15 amount to Rs 1.6 lakh crore, while an estimated 930 lakh metric tonnes of CO2 emissions are reduced.
The government also points to ethanol’s higher octane rating – about 108.5, compared to 84.4 for petrol – which it says improves combustion and acceleration in compliant vehicles.
Is ethanol-blended fuel environment friendly?
The picture is mixed. Ethanol is largely considered a relatively clean-burning fuel – it can reduce carbon monoxide emissions, and its lifecycle carbon footprint is partially offset by the CO2 that sugarcane and other feedstock crops absorb as they grow. But independent experts have given the green signal to the agreement.
Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of the Center for Science and Environment, said that while some pollutants decline, others such as nitrogen oxides and toxic carbonyl compounds may increase with higher ethanol content. For this, Roychoudhury called upon India to adopt emission rules similar to Brazil. Ethanol production is also water- and fertilizer-intensive, and higher ethanol blends can increase volatilization emissions that contribute to smog in hot climates.
What are some concerns about the widespread use of ethanol-blended fuels?
In addition to motorists’ mileage and corrosion complaints – with fuel efficiency drops ranging from 2-6% recorded in ARAI controlled tests to as much as 12% in some real-world accounts – economists and environmental groups have raised wider concerns.
The energy think tank Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) has said that the actual public cost of the program, once feedstock subsidies and tax concessions are included, is well above the amount oil companies actually pay for the ethanol they buy. It warned that increasing electric vehicle adoption could ultimately reduce the use of new ethanol production capacity.
The use of food crops such as sugarcane, maize and rice for fuel has also revived the long-standing ‘food versus fuel’ debate, with some experts warning that it could put pressure on water and land resources, especially in water-stressed areas.
