Union Minister Nitin Gadkari informed Parliament that petrol blended with 20% ethanol, known as E20, can reduce vehicle fuel economy by 2% to 6%. While the blending policy lowers crude oil imports, it passes a direct mileage penalty onto everyday drivers.
6%
Maximum mileage reduction under E20 petrol
⏳ Time Machine
How today’s news fits into the bigger picture
2003
Ethanol pilot launched
India initiates its first pilot project to blend 5% ethanol in select states to test fuel viability.
2020
Target advanced to 20%
The government dramatically advances its 20% ethanol-blending target year from 2030 to 2025.
2023
E20 roll-out begins
Fuel retailers start rolling out E20 petrol across thousands of outlets nationwide, sparking immediate mileage debates.
Today
Nitin Gadkari officially admits that E20 fuel reduces vehicle mileage by up to 6%.
What happens next?
Automakers to launch fully ethanol-compatible E100 flex-fuel engines by late 2026.
In a candid admission to Parliament on Thursday, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari confirmed what many Indian motorists had long suspected: E20 petrol reduces fuel efficiency. According to official data, running vehicles on petrol blended with 20% ethanol causes a mileage drop of 2% to 6%, depending on the vehicle's age and engine type. The government’s aggressive push for ethanol blending is designed to curb India’s massive crude oil import bill and lower carbon emissions. However, ethanol contains less energy per liter than pure gasoline, resulting in this efficiency loss. While the policy benefits sugarcane farmers and the national trade deficit, everyday drivers are effectively paying the same price at the pump for fuel that does not go as far.
💭 If you're wondering…
It can. Older cars not designed for E20 can experience corrosion in rubber hoses and metal fuel tanks because ethanol attracts moisture and is highly corrosive.
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Official sources
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