Evaluation And Impact Of E20 Petrol On Vehicles In The Country

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2328 ANSWERED ON 07.08.2026 EVALUATION AND IMPACT OF E20 PETROL ON VEHICLES IN THE COUNTRY 2328. SHRI CONSTANDINE RAVINDRAN: Will the Minister of Heavy Industries be pleased to state: (a) whether Government has evaluated the preparedness of vehicles manufactured before mandatory E20-compatible standards for sustained use of E20 petrol; (b) the directions issued to automobile manufacturers regarding durability assessment, replacement schedules and monitoring of rubber hoses, seals, gaskets and other fuel-system components exposed to higher ethanol blends; (c) whether any long-term independent validation has been undertaken after commercial rollout to assess real-world vehicle performance; and (d) the steps taken to promote affordable retrofitting, component upgrades and periodic public disclosure of technical performance assessment reports? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEAVY INDUSTRIES (SHRI BHUPATHIRAJU SRINIVASA VARMA) (a), (c) & (d): An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC), constituted on 26 December 2020 under NITI Aayog, comprehensively examined vehicle compatibility and mileage/efficiency aspects of ethanol blending. This assessment was supported by research conducted by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL), the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). Extensive laboratory studies and field trials conducted by ARAI, SIAM, IOCL, IIP and automobile manufacturers covering engine durability, drivability, cold startability, corrosion resistance, material compatibility, fuel system reliability, emissions performance and fuel efficiency have confirmed that E20 is safe for use under prescribed standards. Automobile manufacturers, component suppliers, SIAM, ARAI, testing agencies and Oil Marketing Companies were associated with every stage of the scientific evaluation and phased rollout of E20. E20 was introduced only after successful validation of fuel systems, engine durability, drivability, material compatibility and emissions performance. These studies did not reveal any significant adverse impact on performance, durability or material compatibility in legacy vehicles under the prescribed operating conditions. (b): No such directions have been issued by MHI to automobile manufacturers. *************