E20 fuel rollout backed by scientific studies, no evidence of widespread vehicle damage: Petroleum Ministry
New Delhi , July 30
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Thursday said the nationwide rollout of E20 (20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol) was carried out in a phased manner after extensive scientific validation and consultations with automobile manufacturers and technical institutions, asserting that there is no verified evidence of widespread engine damage or reduced vehicle life due to the use of higher ethanol blends.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi said the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme was implemented following detailed consultations involving NITI Aayog, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), automobile manufacturers, component suppliers and other technical institutions.
The Minister said higher ethanol blends were introduced only after extensive laboratory studies and field trials that assessed engine durability, drivability, startability, corrosion resistance, material compatibility, emissions and fuel efficiency. According to the government, these studies confirmed that E20 fuel is safe for use under prescribed standards.
He said scientific evaluations also found that legacy vehicles did not exhibit any significant variation in performance or abnormal wear and tear due to the use of E20 fuel. Laboratory research, field validation and real-world operating experience have not established any widespread adverse impact on vehicle performance attributable to ethanol blending.
Highlighting the scale of implementation, Gopi said around eight crore vehicles visit fuel retail outlets every day, with petrol vehicles accounting for nearly 80 per cent of the total. E15-plus blended petrol has been in widespread use for more than three-and-a-half years, while E19-E20 fuel has been available for over two-and-a-half years.
During this period, more than 20 crore two-wheelers and over three crore petrol cars have operated on higher ethanol blends without any verified evidence of widespread engine failure or vehicle breakdown linked to ethanol blending, he said.
The Minister added that service data provided by automobile manufacturers show no abnormal corrosion, excessive wear or reduction in vehicle life due to E20 fuel. Manufacturers have also continued to honour warranty obligations for vehicles using E20, reinforcing confidence in the fuel’s safety and reliability.
Citing industry data, Gopi said a leading automobile manufacturer serviced 2.84 crore vehicles during 2025-26, including about 1.5 crore vehicles that were not originally certified as E20-compatible, and reported no E20-related corrosion, abnormal wear or reduction in component life. A major two-wheeler manufacturer reported similar findings, while another original equipment manufacturer (OEM) said data from 1.4 crore E20-operated vehicles tracked over an extended period showed no evidence of ethanol-induced corrosion.
The Minister said automobile manufacturers, component suppliers, SIAM, ARAI, testing agencies and Oil Marketing Companies were involved at every stage of the scientific evaluation and phased rollout of E20 fuel. The blend was introduced only after successful validation of fuel systems, engine durability, drivability, material compatibility and emissions performance.
According to SIAM and ARAI, E20 fuel also offers performance and environmental benefits, including improved acceleration and ride quality, while helping reduce carbon emissions. The Ministry said ethanol’s higher octane rating supports modern high-compression engines, while its higher heat of vaporisation contributes to improved combustion efficiency.DDnews