Consumer concerns grow in India over E20 petrol and vehicle damage

In the summer of 2025, concerns spread among Indian motorists about E20 petrol, a blend containing 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol. The fuel had been rolled out at pumps across the country as part of the government's ethanol blending programme, which aims to cut oil imports and emissions and support farmers who supply sugarcane and grain for ethanol.

Vehicle owners and some consumer and motorist groups said E20 reduced mileage and could damage engines and fuel systems, especially in older vehicles not designed for the higher ethanol share. Complaints were widely shared on social media, and some people asked for the option of buying ethanol-free petrol.

The petroleum ministry defended the blend as safe. It argued that the mileage loss was small and that most vehicles made in recent years were compatible with E20. The dispute raised wider questions about fuel labelling, consumer choice and insurance cover, and it set the stage for later calls for independent testing of fuel samples at state level.