The Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE) has advocated for a comprehensive approach to India's cleaner mobility transition, emphasizing that the country needs both ethanol and electric vehicles rather than choosing between the two technologies. According to reports from The Times of India and ANI, the federation argues that ethanol, electric vehicles, hybrids, CNG and hydrogen should form part of a diversified energy strategy to address India's mobility needs. This recommendation comes as India continues to operate nearly 300 million internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles on its roads, with the country now moving to nationwide E20 deployment by April 2025 and expanding higher ethanol blends, flex-fuel vehicles and second-generation ethanol. Dilip Patil, Regional Director, IFGE-West, Pune, emphasized the practical approach needed for India's cleaner mobility transition, stating that 'The debate should not be framed as ethanol versus EVs India needs both. E20 provides an immediate pathway to reduce crude oil dependence and strengthen energy security, while EVs, hybrids and other technologies continue to scale'. This perspective reflects the federation's view that multiple technologies will be required to address India's diverse mobility requirements and infrastructure capabilities, with the government pushing ethanol blending as part of efforts to reduce India's dependence on imported crude oil and increase the use of domestically produced fuels.
IFGE has provided specific data on the fuel efficiency impact of E20 petrol compared to the existing E10 standard. As reported by The Times of India and ANI, studies by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Indian Oil and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) indicate a 2-6 per cent reduction in fuel efficiency with E20 compared with E10. The industry body noted that testing has not indicated widespread engine damage, with concerns primarily linked to the transition involving older vehicles. According to the latest figures released by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, India's ethanol blending programme has resulted in foreign-exchange savings of more than ₹1.97 lakh crore and substitution of nearly 316 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil since Ethanol Supply Year 2014-15. The government has been pushing ethanol blending as part of efforts to reduce India's dependence on imported crude oil and increase the use of domestically produced fuels.
Dilip Patil, Regional Director, IFGE-West, Pune, emphasized the practical approach needed for India's cleaner mobility transition. According to The Times of India and ANI, Patil stated that 'The debate should not be framed as ethanol versus EVs India needs both. E20 provides an immediate pathway to reduce crude oil dependence and strengthen energy security, while EVs, hybrids and other technologies continue to scale'. This perspective reflects the federation's view that multiple technologies will be required to address India's diverse mobility requirements and infrastructure capabilities, with the government continuing to expand higher ethanol blends, flex-fuel vehicles and second-generation ethanol technologies.
The IFGE's recommendations come amid ongoing concerns about the effect of E20 petrol on vehicle mileage and compatibility. As reported by The Times of India and ANI, the federation acknowledges these concerns while highlighting that newer vehicles are increasingly using ethanol-compatible materials, suggesting that the transition challenges are primarily linked to older vehicle models. This suggests that India's mobility transition will require a phased approach that considers both immediate fuel efficiency improvements through ethanol adoption and long-term electrification strategies, with the government continuing to expand higher ethanol blends, flex-fuel vehicles and second-generation ethanol technologies. The industry body noted that concerns are largely associated with the transition of older vehicles, indicating that the transition impact will be manageable as the vehicle fleet continues to modernize.
