Overview
- Government ministers and major automakers held a joint briefing on July 4 to reiterate that tests by ARAI, Indian Oil R&D, IIP and manufacturers show no evidence that E20 petrol damages engines.
- A June LocalCircles survey of 22,567 petrol vehicle owners found 53% rated the rollout handling negatively and 66% of pre-2023 vehicle owners reported more than a 10% drop in mileage after switching to E20.
- Industry and officials acknowledge E20’s lower calorific value can reduce fuel efficiency and commonly cite a modest 3–6% mileage loss for many older cars, while also saying service data has not shown systematic engine failures attributable to E20.
- Regulators have tightened specifications, requiring E20 to meet RON 95 from April 1, 2026, and BIS has published standards for E22–E30 in May 2026, with the government keeping E20 as the baseline through October 31, 2026.
- Public protests, court references and viral vehicle-failure claims are driving calls for consumer options such as E0/E10, price compensation or wider rollout of flex-fuel and E85 pilots, and officials note fuel contamination and ethanol’s water-absorbing properties can complicate real-world problems.