Industry experts and leading automobile manufacturers on Saturday defended the use of E20 petrol, asserting that the fuel, which contains 20% ethanol, is backed by years of scientific testing and is safe even for vehicles manufactured before the nationwide rollout of the higher ethanol blend. They also said the program has helped India cut crude oil imports and lower carbon emissions.
The clarification comes amid growing debate over E20 petrol, with some motorists, social media users and political leaders alleging that the higher ethanol blend has reduced fuel efficiency and caused engine-related issues, particularly in older vehicles.
Speaking at a press conference, former Engineers India Limited chairman and managing director Vartika Shukla said India’s ethanol blending program was introduced after extensive scientific research and consultation.
“This has not been done overnight. It is a measured, scientifically driven, step-by-step process,” she said, according to news agency ANI.
Shukla noted that ethanol blending in petrol had risen from around 1.5% in 2013-14 to 20% by December 2025, allowing India to achieve its target five years ahead of schedule. She said the program is supported by extensive scientific evidence and testing conducted by automobile manufacturers, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).
She further said India had adopted practices already followed in countries such as the United States, Brazil, Canada and Germany. According to her, higher ethanol blending has reduced the country’s dependence on imported crude oil and strengthened India’s energy security during periods of geopolitical uncertainty.
Automakers dismiss engine damage concerns
Representatives from leading automobile companies said extensive laboratory testing, certification exercises and real-world vehicle data do not support claims that E20 petrol causes engine damage or excessive wear in vehicles originally designed for lower ethanol blends.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s Country Head and Executive Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Governance, Vikram Gulati, said vehicles sold in India undergo rigorous engineering and testing before reaching consumers.
“Vehicles that are made available to consumers are extremely well engineered, well designed and have a very immense element of oversight through technically sound testing agencies,” he said.
Describing ethanol as an efficient fuel, Gulati said it delivers strong performance while helping reduce emissions.
“In an era when we are facing the issue of climate change… this is a zero-carbon fuel because it’s derived from plants,” he said.
He added that ethanol blending has also helped shield consumers and the Indian economy from fluctuations in global crude oil prices.
Maruti Suzuki India’s Senior Executive Officer for Corporate Affairs, Rahul Bharti, addressed concerns regarding vehicles that were originally designed to run on E10 fuel.
“As a manufacturer, we have tested E10 cars… on E20 fuel for all parameters, and we have not found anything of concern,” Bharti said.
He added that adequate engineering safety margins had been incorporated to ensure there are no issues related to wear and tear, corrosion or the lifespan of components, even when vehicles manufactured before 2023 are operated on E20 petrol.
Hero MotoCorp Chief Business Officer Ashutosh Verma said the company’s analysis of service records from millions of two-wheelers also supports the safety of E20 fuel.
“We analyze crores of service data that we have, and there is no incidence whatsoever of any higher damage with vehicles that run on E20 than the vehicles that were running on fuels prior to E20,” Verma said.
E20 debate gathers momentum
The industry’s clarification comes days after concerns over E20 petrol gained traction on social media and in political circles.
Among those raising the issue was YouTuber and Jan Suraaj Party activist Manish Kashyap, who claimed in a widely circulated video that his vehicle developed engine problems after running on E20 petrol, alleging that the higher ethanol blend caused the damage. Toyota, without naming him, rejected the allegation and said the issue stemmed from contaminated fuel rather than the ethanol blend itself.
Several motorists have similarly claimed that E20 petrol leads to lower mileage, higher maintenance costs and compatibility issues in older vehicles. However, the government has repeatedly maintained that no official investigation has established any direct link between E20 fuel and the reported mechanical problems.
Earlier this week, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari dismissed allegations that E20 petrol damages vehicle engines, describing such claims as “false.”
“Show me one vehicle that has been damaged because of E20 petrol,” Gadkari said, while reiterating that scientific studies have found no evidence linking E20 fuel to engine damage.
The Centre has projected ethanol blending as a key pillar of its clean energy strategy, saying the initiative reduces dependence on imported crude oil, lowers vehicular emissions and creates additional income opportunities for farmers through increased demand for ethanol feedstock. India achieved its target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol by the end of 2025, five years ahead of its original deadline.
