NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday said extensive studies have found no significant performance or durability issues in vehicles running on E20 petrol, asserting that even older vehicles generally do not require engine modifications to use the fuel.In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said tests found no issues in parameters such as drivability, startability, metal compatibility and plastic compatibility.Responding to concerns over fuel efficiency, Gadkari said automobile manufacturers and vehicle-testing agencies have clarified that mileage depends on several factors and cannot be attributed solely to the type of fuel used.He said a joint study by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Dehradun, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), and Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) evaluated the impact of E20 fuel on two-wheelers and four-wheelers.“The studies confirmed that even legacy vehicles did not exhibit any significant variations in performance, nor did they show abnormal wear and tear when operated with E20 fuel,” Gadkari said.He added that the studies did not indicate any need to modify car or two-wheeler engines for using E20 fuel.Gadkari, however, said that in BS-III vehicles introduced from April 1, 2005, and manufactured before 2016, some rubber parts and gaskets may require replacement. “This can be easily managed during the routine servicing regime of the vehicle,” he said.The rollout of E20 petrol, a blend of 80% petrol and 20% ethanol, has faced criticism from opposition parties and some consumer groups over its impact on older vehicles not specifically designed for higher ethanol blends.Critics have questioned vehicle compatibility, raised concerns about reduced fuel efficiency and higher maintenance costs, and sought clarity on liability in case of engine or fuel-system damage.The government has maintained that the transition has been phased and backed by extensive testing, while automobile manufacturers have said they continue to honour warranty claims for vehicles using E20 fuel. Opposition parties have repeatedly sought greater transparency on vehicle compatibility and consumer safeguards.Gadkari said an inter-ministerial committee (IMC), constituted under NITI Aayog on December 26, 2020, comprehensively examined vehicle compatibility and fuel-efficiency aspects of ethanol blending. The assessment was supported by research conducted by IOCL, ARAI and SIAM.The committee’s “Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India 2020-25”, released in June 2021, was prepared after extensive consultations with automobile manufacturers, oil marketing companies and agricultural experts. It examined material compatibility, engine calibration, fuel systems, drivability, durability, emissions and fuel efficiency before the introduction of E20 fuel.Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme has been implemented through a phased, calibrated, scientifically validated and consultative approach, Gadkari said.He also noted that ethanol-blended fuel has been used globally for more than a century, with countries such as Brazil using even higher ethanol blends for decades.In India, the EBP Programme began as a pilot project in 2001, and E5 fuel was introduced in 2006. While ethanol blending remained around 1.53% until 2013-14, it has since increased progressively after the required production capacity, infrastructure and regulatory framework were put in place.Before the rollout of E20 in April 2026, extensive laboratory studies, durability trials and field validation were carried out to assess engine durability, material compatibility, fuel systems, corrosion resistance, drivability, emissions, fuel economy and overall vehicle performance.BS, or Bharat Stage, refers to India’s vehicle emission standards, which prescribe limits for pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons (HC) and particulate matter (PM).
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