The Centre has rejected what it described as misleading claims circulating in the media and on social media regarding the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, stating that the initiative is backed by scientific validation, extensive field experience and industry data.
The government issued a point-wise clarification to address concerns related to vehicle compatibility, engine performance, mileage and the role of automobile manufacturers.
Vehicles and E20 compatibility
The government said the claim that vehicles manufactured before 2023 cannot run on E20 petrol is incorrect.
E15-plus fuel has been in widespread use for over three-and-a-half years, while E19-E20 fuel has been been used for more than two-and-a-half years.
During this period, there have been no verified reports of widespread engine failure or vehicle breakdown attributable to ethanol blending.
Global experience
The government noted that ethanol is not a new fuel and has been used globally for more than a century, with countries such as Brazil operating on higher ethanol blends for decades.
In India, the EBP Programme began with a pilot in 2001. E5 was introduced in 2006, and blending has since been increased in a calibrated manner after creating the required production capacity, infrastructure and regulatory framework.
Existing vehicles unaffected
Rejecting claims that nearly 30 crore vehicles would become unusable, the government said more than 20 crore two-wheelers and over three crore petrol cars have already been operating on E15-plus and E19-E20 fuels without widespread issues.
It also dismissed concerns that older vehicles are at risk, citing data from a leading automobile manufacturer that serviced 2.84 crore vehicles during FY26, including nearly 1.5 crore vehicles that were never originally certified as E20-compatible, without any evidence of widespread ethanol-related problems.
Industry validation
The government said the claim that automobile manufacturers have privately indicated E20 is undesirable is not supported by facts.
Toyota Kirloskar stated that E20 was introduced only after rigorous testing on older vehicles, while Maruti Suzuki issued a statement of confidence to consumers.
Hero MotoCorp said it had not found any higher incidence of vehicle damage on E20 fuel compared with earlier fuel blends. Hyundai Motor India, TVS Motor Company and Bajaj Auto also reaffirmed that E20 was introduced only after extensive testing and validation.
Mileage concerns addressed
Responding to claims that mileage would collapse with E20 fuel, the government said fuel efficiency depends on several factors.
These include driving habits, traffic conditions, vehicle maintenance, tyre pressure and air-conditioner usage, and cannot be attributed solely to ethanol blending.
Warranty support continues
The government also rejected allegations that automobile companies are being forced to support E20.
It said manufacturers would not have certified E20-compatible vehicles or continued to honour warranty obligations unless they were satisfied with the scientific validation and testing carried out before the rollout.
Manufacturers continue to honour warranties for vehicles operating on specification-compliant E20 fuel because they have confidence in the technology and validation process.
Companies independent
The government further dismissed claims that automobile companies are under pressure to hide the truth.
It said India’s automobile manufacturers are independent listed companies with legal and regulatory obligations to customers.
They cannot conceal widespread vehicle defects without exposing themselves to warranty claims, product liability, regulatory action and serious reputational damage. The industry’s position has also been expressed publicly and is supported by real-world service data.