Better Acceleration, Ride Quality, Farm Income: Centre Addresses Concerns Over E20 Petrol
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) on Tuesday issued a detailed response addressing concerns raised on the impact of 20% Ethanol Blended Petrol (E-20) on mileage and vehicle life, particularly in older vehicles and customer experience.
The ministry backed the usage of E20 petrol, saying that the move will not only help reduce pollution and save money on oil imports, but also will lead to better acceleration and even ride quality.
While dismissing the claims that mileage was significantly hit because of E20 petrol, the MoPNG asserted that its use gives 'better acceleration, better ride quality and lowered carbon emissions by approximately 30 percent as compared to E10 fuel".
'The use of E-20 gives better acceleration, better ride quality and most importantly, lowered carbon emissions by approximately 30% as compared to E10 fuel. Ethanol's higher-octane number (approximately 108.5 compared to petrol's 84.4) makes Ethanol-blended fuels a valuable alternative for higher-octane requirements that is crucial for modern high-compression engines," the statement said.
Terming claims of reduction in fuel efficiency 'misplaced", the ministry said, 'Vehicle mileage is influenced by a variety of factors beyond fuel type. These include driving habits, maintenance practices such as oil changes and air filter cleanliness, tyre pressure and alignment, and even air conditioning load."
'Concerns related to performance and mileage being raised now were anticipated as early as 2020 by the Government and an Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC) of the NITI Aayog examined them at length. This was also backed by research studies carried out by IOCL, ARAI and SIAM," the statement mentioned.
'Extensive discussions have been carried out with the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) as well as prominent manufacturers of vehicles. The efficiency drop (if any) in E10 vehicles has been marginal. For some manufacturers, vehicles have been E20 compatible from as far back as 2009. The question of any drop in fuel efficiency in such vehicles does not arise," it added.
In the detailed statement, the government further said that moving to E20 fuel is part of India's commitment to meeting its climate goals and achieving net zero emissions by 2070.
'A study on life cycle emissions of Ethanol done by NITI Aayog has said that GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions in the case of use of sugarcane and maize-based ethanol are less by 65% and 50%, respectively than those of petrol," the ministry said.
The statement further highlighted how the rural economy has witnessed benefits due to the shift to E20 fuel, which the ministry claimed has increased the farmers' incomes, thereby helping curb suicides.
'More income to farmers has not only contributed to furthering their well-being but has also helped decisively tackle the challenge of suicides by farmers. It may be recalled that in areas like Vidarbha, farmer suicides were widespread a few years ago," it added.
The ministry cited the example of Brazil, saying that it has been using E27 (fuel with 27 percent ethanol) for several years and has not faced any issues. It also said that many of the manufacturers, whose cars are bought and sold in India, including Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai, sell vehicles in Brazil as well.
On the issue of increased wear and tear, the statement said, 'In most parameters, including drivability, startability, metal compatibility, plastic compatibility, there are no issues. Only in case of certain older vehicles, some rubber parts and gaskets may require replacement earlier than in the case non non-blended fuel. This replacement is inexpensive and can be easily managed during routine servicing. It may need to be done once in the lifetime of the vehicle and is a simple process to be carried out at any authorised workshop."
The Centre also addressed another concern that this fuel should be sold at a cheaper price as compared to regular fuel. The ministry said that the 'weighted average price" of ethanol is now higher than the cost of refined petrol.
'Despite the increase in price of ethanol in comparison to petrol, the oil companies have not gone back on the ethanol blending mandate because the programme delivers on energy security, boosts farmers' incomes and environmental sustainability," it said.
The ministry further assured that the insurance claims will not be impacted by the E20 switch. It further responded to apprehensions about a rapid switch to fuels consisting higher ethanol levels, saying that the process requires extensive consultation.
'…the current roadmap commits the government to E-20 up to 31.10.2026. Decisions for beyond 31.10.2026 will involve submission of the Report of the Inter Ministerial Committee, evaluation of its recommendations, stakeholder consultations and a considered decision of the government in this regard. That decision is yet to be taken," it said.
view comments
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
August 12, 2025, 19:52 IST
News india Better Acceleration, Ride Quality, Farm Income: Centre Addresses Concerns Over E20 Petrol
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
18 minutes ago
- Indian Express
NITI Aayog meet calls for reforms to boost India's R&D ecosystem
Removing bureaucratic and procurement bottlenecks through AI-enabled systems, pre-approved vendor lists, and digitised approvals, and establishing a centralised funding database were among the key recommendations made at the fifth regional consultative meet on 'Ease of Doing Research and Development (R&D)'. The meet, jointly initiated by NITI Aayog and hosted by the Gujarat Council on Science and Technology (GUJCOST), concluded on Wednesday at Science City, Ahmedabad, with a renewed vision to make India a globally competitive hub for research and innovation. The two-day deliberation, held on August 12 and 13 brought together over 110 eminent leaders from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Participants shared insights and actionable recommendations to simplify administrative processes, accelerate translational research, strengthen institutional competitiveness, and enhance access to knowledge resources. Prof Vivek Kumar Singh, Senior Adviser, NITI Aayog, opened the discussions by stressing upon 'the urgent need for structural reforms, agile regulatory systems, and collaborative models to unlock India's R&D potential'. 'Scientific advancement demands not only investments but also an ecosystem that is agile, transparent, and enabling,' he said. Delivering the valedictory address, Dr V K Saraswat, Member (S&T), NITI Aayog, urged stakeholders to transform Indian research institutions into globally benchmarked centres of excellence. He called for 'simplification of compliance procedures, institutional benchmarking, and stronger academia–industry linkages to drive high-impact and self-reliant research'.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
US Chip-Gear Maker Sued in China Over Alleged Trade Secret Theft
Top US chip-equipment supplier Applied Materials Inc. was sued by a rival in China over what that company characterized as trade secret theft, a further escalation in the technology war between the world's two largest economies. Beijing E-Town Semiconductor Technology Co. filed a lawsuit with the Beijing Intellectual Property Court against Applied Materials, according to a company statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The Chinese chip-gear maker alleged that the Santa Clara, California-based company illegally obtained, used and revealed its core technologies related to the application of plasma source in treating the surface of wafers, the statement said. The court has filed the case but has not begun a trial, E-Town added. Applied Materials earlier hired two employees from E-Town's fully owned US subsidiary, Mattson, and they were privy to the Beijing company's proprietary plasma technologies, the filing said. Applied Materials filed a patent application crediting the duo as inventors with the National Intellectual Property Administration in China after the two joined the Santa Clara company, the Beijing firm said, alleging that the content revealed trade secrets co-owned by E-Town and Mattson. 'The patent application violated the rules of China's Anti-Unfair Competition Law, and it infringes on trade secrets, and has caused significant damage to the plaintiff's intellectual property and economic interests,' E-Town said in the filing, adding that Applied Materials is also suspected of marketing and selling the technologies involved in the case to Chinese customers. E-Town is asking the court to demand that Applied Materials stop using its trade secrets and destroy related materials. It's also seeking about 100 million yuan in recompense for damage. The Beijing Intellectual Property Court didn't answer multiple calls outside of regular hours. Applied Materials didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. Chip-gear technology is a focal point in the prolonged technology war between the US and China. To date, the semiconductor manufacturing equipment space is still dominated by the US, the Netherlands and Japan. A yearslong US-led campaign has prevented Chinese companies from securing Dutch supplier ASML Holding NV's state-of-the-art extreme ultraviolet lithography systems, which are required to make the most cutting-edge chips for developing artificial intelligence algorithms. ASML's technologies also don't work at a chipmaking plant without support from US equipment suppliers, including Applied Materials and Lam Research Corp. While E-Town's move might be seen as part of China's efforts to retaliate against the US, the two companies have their own existing dispute. In 2022, Applied Materials sued Mattson over alleged corporate espionage. Mattson denied any wrongdoing at the time. With assistance from Peter Blumberg and Brody Ford.
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Owaisi criticises US trade tariffs on India, opposes cricketing ties with Pakistan
Hyderabad parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday said that U.S. President Donald Trump would have to decide whether his country would trade with India, its strategic partner, or Pakistan, a country that 'trades in terror'. Mr. Owaisi, who is the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president, was interacting with the media at the party headquarters in Darussalaam. 'The U.S. President should understand that India–U.S. bilateral trade is worth over $200 billion, while U.S.–Pakistan trade is just $5 billion. The new agreement will increase our [bilateral] trade to $500 billion. The U.S. President has to decide if he wants to trade with a country where terrorism is trade, or with India, where successive governments over the past two decades have deepened strategic ties between the the two countries,' Mr. Owaisi said. The Hyderabad MP also criticised the trade tariffs which the U.S. imposed on India and said that these would affect the textile industry in Tamil Nadu, and the gems and diamond industry of Surat. Mr. Owaisi reiterated his opposition to cricketing ties with Pakistan given threats from that country's military leadership, including those nuclear in nature. 'My heart and conscience do not permit it,' he said, adding that when the Wagah border has been closed, and visas were not being issued, why must a cricket match take place. He hoped that the Narendra Modi government would summon the US envoy in India and lodge their protest against Pakistan army chief Asim Munir's comments against India made on US soil. In a separate development, Mr. Owaisi inaugurated projects whose funds would be drawn from MPLADS. These include two modern gyms at the Sports Complex in Chandulal Baradari, and Manju Miyan Tabela Community Hall in Dabeerpura, a new Anganwadi building and toilet block at Government High School, Azampura-II, a new building for Government Boys High School building (Urdu Medium) for Classes VI to X at Moghalpura, and a new library building at Moghalpura Division.
