The government’s latest clarification comes amid continuing concerns among motorists over the impact of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol on mileage, vehicle performance and compatibility.
New Delhi:The government on Saturday said E20 petrol alone cannot be held responsible for changes in vehicle mileage, stressing that real-world fuel economy depends on several factors, including driving habits, traffic conditions, vehicle maintenance, tyre pressure and use of air conditioning.
In a post on X, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said E20 has undergone extensive testing and validation, while highlighting multiple factors that determine the mileage delivered by a vehicle.
“Mileage depends on more than fuel alone. Driving habits, traffic, vehicle maintenance, tyre pressure and AC usage all play a role,” the ministry said.
“E20 has undergone extensive testing and validation, while real-world mileage depends on the overall driving and vehicle conditions,” it added.
The government’s latest clarification comes amid continuing concerns among motorists over the impact of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol on mileage, vehicle performance and compatibility.
The government has previously acknowledged that some vehicles may experience a 3-5 per cent reduction in fuel economy with E20, while maintaining that real-world mileage is also influenced by several driving and vehicle-related factors.
The government and state-run oil marketing companies have also pushed back against broader concerns over alleged widespread fuel contamination.
Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum said nationwide testing found no evidence supporting claims of high chloride contamination or moisture in E20 petrol.
More than 100 petrol samples from refineries showed chloride levels at or below one part per million, while ethanol samples from 80 distilleries and more than 80 E20 samples from depots and terminals recorded chloride levels below the prescribed limit of three ppm. GeographicReference
The oil marketing companies also said inspections of underground storage tanks at around 90,000 fuel stations found no water ingress. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said oil marketing companies conducted rigorous testing at retail outlets, with only a few cases of contamination detected.
Earlier, India’s auto industry said it would revamp numbers furnished to the government as it withdrew its first warning of damage to vehicle parts caused by contaminated ethanol-blended fuel, stoking consumer anger over the contentious policy.
The move came hours after media reported the group’s warning, sparking public uproar and forcing the petroleum ministry to issue a clarification.
“The referred numbers reported in the media need authentication,” the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers said in a statement, “… and therefore SIAM is withdrawing its earlier communication.”
SIAM, which sent its warning on July 28, and the recipient, India’s petroleum ministry, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
With their letter, seen by Reuters, India’s automakers accept for the first time issues stemming from a mandatory policy that sparked street protests, legal cases and consumer anger after the government rolled it out at 90,000 fuel pumps.
The lobby group did not deny the issue of contamination in its statement, but said some numbers quoted “need authentication through collection of elaborate data … across the country followed by a comprehensive consultation”
The group, whose members include Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Toyota Motor Corp and Mercedes Benz, did not say when the efforts would be completed, however.
QUESTIONS FROM VEHICLE OWNERS
Vehicle owners are at best sceptical about the U-turn.
“Did the science change overnight, or did the ministry call?” Nachiket Deshpande, one of dozens of angry social media users, asked on X.
The policy of blending 20% ethanol in petrol to yield a product called E20 replaced E10 nationwide in 2025.
That was well ahead of a 2030 deadline as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government sought to cut costly petroleum imports, although E20-compliant cars had only begun hitting the roads in 2023.
The rollout provoked uproar instead among consumers who blame the fuel for mileage drops and vehicle damage, with many demanding a choice of lower ethanol blends, particularly for vehicles that cannot use E20.