Lok Sabha Question No. 6315 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-02
Subject: Impact of Ethanol Blending on Vehicles and Consumers
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shri M K Raghavan

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 6315 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 nd  April, 2026

## IMPACT OF ETHANOL BLENDING ON VEHICLES AND CONSUMERS

## 6315.  SHRI M K RAGHAVAN:

## पेᮝोिलयम और ᮧाकृ ितक गैस मंᮢी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has conducted any scientific or technical assessment on the impact of higher ethanol blending (E10 and E20) on older vehicles and agricultural machinery not designed to operate on ethanol-blended fuel and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is aware of complaints from the public regarding reduced engine performance, corrosion of fuel system components and increased maintenance costs due to ethanol-blended petrol and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  an  option  for  ethanol-free  petrol  in  the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  examined  international  practices  where  ethanol-free  fuel  is made available for specific categories of vehicles and whether any such model is proposed to be adopted in India, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  automobile  manufacturers,  fuel  retailers  and  consumer  groups  were  consulted before expanding ethanol blending targets and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## पेᮝोिलयम और ᮧाकृ ितक गैस मंᮢालय मᱶ रा᭔य मंᮢी ( ᮰ी सुरेश गोपी )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

(a)  to (e):  The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) constituted on 26.12.2020 under NITI Aayog had, inter-alia, examined various aspects of vehicle compatibility and mileage on E20 fuel.  This study was also supported by research studies conducted by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), the  Automotive  Research  Association  of  India(ARAI),  and  the  Society  of  Indian  Automobile Manufacturers  (SIAM).  Extensive  field  trials  on  vehicles  with  E20  fuel  did  not  indicate  any compatibility issue or any negative impact of E20. These studies have confirmed that even legacy vehicles do not exhibit any significant variations in performance, nor do they show abnormal wearand-tear when operated with E20 parameters such as drivability, startability, metal compatibility, and plastic compatibility. Only in case of certain older vehicles, some rubber parts and gaskets may require  replacement  earlier  than  in  case  of  non  blended  fuel  was  used.  This  replacement  is inexpensive  and  can  be  easily  done  once  during  routine  servicing.  It  may  be  done  once  in  the lifetime of the vehicle and is a simple process to be carried out at any authorized workshop.

According to the Joint Statement dated 30.08.2025 by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), E20 fuel improves acceleration and ride quality while reducing carbon emissions by about 30% compared to E10. Ethanol's higher octane supports  modern  high-compression  engines,  and  its  higher  heat  of  vaporization  enhances efficiency by cooling intake air and improving combustion.

Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme has resulted in expeditious payment to farmers to a tune of over Rs. 1,50,925 crore from Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2014-15 up to February 2026, besides savings of more than Rs. 1,70,560 crore of foreign exchange, net CO2 reduction of approximately 869 lakh metric tonne and substitution of more than 289 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil.

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