E20 ethanol-blended petrol: executives cite testing, vehicle compatibility, and lower crude oil imports for India

Industry executives said 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol, or E20, was tested in detail and used safely. Speakers said it suited newer models and many older vehicles. They added that E20 mattered for lowering India’s crude oil imports. The remarks came at a news conference at the government’s National Media Centre.

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Former Engineers India Ltd Chairman and Managing Director Vartika Shukla said E20 reached national rollout after phased steps. Vartika Shukla said trials covered two-wheelers and four-wheelers before the 2030 mandate. Vartika Shukla called the move important for decarbonisation. Vartika Shukla said any small performance change depended on driving habits.

E20 ethanol-blended petrol testing and vehicle safety

Maruti Suzuki India Senior Executive Officer Corporate Affairs Rahul Bharti said owners of vehicles made before 2023 should not be concerned. "We have tested E10 cars, which were prevalent before 2023, on E20 fuel for all parameters, and we have not found anything of concern,\" Bharti said. Bharti added that checks covered key operating measures.

Bharti said the company did not see issues tied to wear and tear. Bharti also said testing did not flag corrosion risks. Bharti said the expected life of parts touching E20 fuel stayed normal. Executives said this addressed common worries about older fuel systems and long-term component health.

E20 ethanol-blended petrol standards under EBP programme

Vartika Shukla said the Ethanol Blended Petrol EBP programme began in 2018. Vartika Shukla said the plan was shaped through wide stakeholder discussions. Vartika Shukla said oil marketing companies followed set standards while supplying blended petrol. \"There is absolutely no gap in the scientific methodology used to determine these standards,\" she said.

E20 ethanol-blended petrol and India’s energy security

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Country Head and Executive Vice President Corporate Affairs and Governance Vikram Gulati said ethanol could improve energy security. Vikram Gulati said it reduced dependence on imported oil. \"What happened two-three months back was a wake-up call and an extremely strong reminder of the vulnerability we face because of energy being imported,\" Gulati said.

Gulati said ethanol came from plant-based feedstock and described it as a zero-carbon fuel. Gulati said ethanol had been used for years in high-performance settings. Gulati pointed to motor racing as one such area. Gulati also described ethanol as a cleaner-burning, high-performance fuel.

Gulati said wider ethanol use could also aid farmers. Gulati said it could lift demand for crops used to produce ethanol. Executives repeated that the blended fuel was assessed before expansion. They said E20 supported lower oil imports while aligning with the 2030 mandate timeline.

With inputs from PTI