AAP criticizes E20 fuel blending policy, publishes mock gas station receipt

According to a recent large-scale survey, a significant portion of car owners express dissatisfaction with the introduction of E20 gasoline. While the government emphasizes the benefits of E20, users of older vehicles are facing decreased fuel efficiency and rising repair bills.

Results of the Large-Scale Survey

The study, conducted by LocalCircles, involved 22,567 owners of petrol cars from 316 districts across the country. According to the results, 53 percent of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the process of introducing E20 gasoline by the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Petroleum. Furthermore, 42 percent rated the process as 'extremely poor,' while only 13 percent gave it a positive rating.

Problems with Older Cars

The biggest concern is the situation with cars manufactured before 2023. Sixty-six percent of such owners stated that after switching to E20 gasoline, their vehicle's fuel consumption decreased by more than 10 percent. Additionally, 45 percent reported an increase in component issues with their cars and the need to spend more money on maintenance compared to the past.

Owner Preferences and Government Stance

The survey also revealed that people are not categorically against ethanol blending but demand alternatives that meet their needs. About 31 percent of owners of petrol cars manufactured before 2023 are willing to buy E0 or E10 fuel, even if it is more expensive than E20. This indicates the readiness of older motorists to use fuel with lower ethanol content despite additional costs.

On the other hand, the central government continues to defend the ethanol blending program. The government asserts that this will reduce India's dependence on crude oil imports, decrease environmental pollution, strengthen energy security, and boost farmers' income. Recently, the government convened a panel of leaders from major automakers, who unanimously supported the benefits of ethanol.

Technical Specifications and Solutions

The study notes that a large number of petrol cars designed for low-ethanol fuel are still circulating on Indian roads. Most models produced before April 2023 were designed to run on E10 gasoline, whereas new models released after April 2025 fully comply with E20 requirements. This is why older car owners are encountering difficulties related to fuel consumption and maintenance.

The report also points out that bringing older cars up to E20 compliance may require replacing several parts of the fuel system that cannot withstand high ethanol content for long, which could increase owner expenses. Dipak Balani, Director General of the Indian Sugar and Bioenergy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), told Aaj Tak that a special kit for converting flexible fuel was tested. The test results were largely positive for older BS4 and BS6 vehicles.

Dipak Balani also clarified that the report on testing this conversion kit was submitted to the government. Although importing such a kit costs 50,000 rupees, its cost could be around 20,000 rupees with local development. ISMA conducted tests of this kit on a Maruti Dzire.

Survey Demographics

The LocalCircles survey covered 22,567 owners of petrol cars across 316 districts in the country. Among the participants, 69 percent were male and 31 percent were female. Geographically, about 46 percent of respondents were from Tier-1 districts, 32 percent from Tier-2 districts, and the remaining 22 percent were from Tier-3, Tier-4, Tier-5 districts, and rural areas. LocalCircles confirmed that all participants in the survey were registered and certified users of their platform.

In defense of the government, which is facing criticism over the mandatory blending of 20% ethanol into gasoline, vehicle manufacturers reported on Saturday that they found no signs of engine damage. Nevertheless, they acknowledged a 3–3.5% decrease in fuel efficiency in vehicles manufactured before 2023. This drop in consumption is attributed to the fact that E20 gasoline has a lower calorific value.

Appeal to Manufacturers

According to TOI, the government contacted automakers and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) on Friday to refute false claims about E20 circulating on social media.

Statements from Leading Companies

Top executives from companies such as Maruti Suzuki India, Toyota Kirloskar, Bajaj Auto, TVS Motor, Hyundai Motor India, and Hero MotoCorp addressed the press on Saturday to alleviate consumer concerns. Rahul Bharti from Maruti Suzuki India stated that between 2025 and 2026, they serviced 28 million vehicles, 15 million of which were older than three years and not certified for E20 use. He emphasized: 'We have not found anything concerning regarding the use of E20 fuel in these vehicles... In addition to tests in our laboratories, the operational experience has also been satisfactory. This gives us confidence to inform our customers that there are no problems.'

Prospects and Support for Solutions

In response to the question of whether the industry would urge the government to maintain the current mandatory ethanol blend of 20% for 10–15 years to build trust among new buyers, Vikram Gulati from Toyota Kirloskar Motor said that the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) and the automotive industry, along with other stakeholders, are in dialogue with the government. He noted that there is a clear demand for Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV), and this issue is being advanced. According to him, increasing the number of FFVs in the market will provide a globally compatible path that brings sufficient flexibility and maneuverability. Discussions are underway, and the government is considering this direction.

Gulati also added that the decision to launch fuel pumps dispensing E85 (gasoline with 85% ethanol) is a step in this direction, and he supports this initiative.