The government is seeking to contain a growing backlash against its mandatory use of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol, as consumers unhappy about lower fuel efficiency and vehicle performance planned protests against the policy. The mandate to use the blend, known as E20, came into force last year but has emerged as one of the biggest political flashpoints for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government and motorists in the world's third-largest car market. Indian motorists will gather in New Delhi on Sunday in the first major protest against the flagship biofuel program, as reported by Business Standard. Many motorists are frustrated that they no longer have a choice at fuel stations and have seized on the Attorney General's comment to express their concerns on social media. Tehseen Poonawalla, a New Delhi-based social activist and Congress supporter, said he was planning a protest against the E20 policy in New Delhi on Sunday and had received interest from thousands of people wanting to join. The government and automakers have been on the defensive after weeks of complaints on social media, with authorities seeking to contain the controversy by convening a media briefing with auto industry executives on Saturday.
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday pushed back against social media claims surrounding ethanol-blended fuel, saying the government welcomes constructive criticism but not misinformation about the biofuel programme. Speaking to The Times of India, Puri said people were free to point out shortcomings in the government's work and assured them that genuine suggestions would be considered and incorporated wherever necessary. "Over the past few days, you may have noticed a stir on social media regarding biofuel blending. I welcome criticism. If you feel there are shortcomings in the work we are doing, please point them out, and we will listen to you; we will incorporate your suggestions into our work and make the necessary corrections," he said. The minister also dismissed claims of ethanol attracting pests, damaging vehicle engines or fuel pumps, stating that the use of ethanol as a fuel is not a new idea and has been around for nearly a century. Speaking separately in Rajasthan, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri blamed vested interests of spreading misinformation, as reported by Business Standard.
Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) Director Dr Reji Mathai revealed that controlled tests conducted jointly by ARAI and original equipment manufacturers found that vehicles running on E20 fuel recorded a 2 to 6 per cent drop in fuel consumption compared with E10 fuel. As reported by ANI, Dr Mathai said the tests were carried out under controlled laboratory conditions to isolate the impact of the fuel blend. "The studies were done along with the OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), the vehicle manufacturers who understand their vehicles very well, to assess the impact of E20 compared to E10," he said, adding that ethanol has a slightly lower calorific value than petrol. The tests covered vehicles of different ages, jointly selected by ARAI and manufacturers, and showed a consistent 2 to 6 per cent drop in fuel consumption across all tested vehicles. Carmakers dismissed the complaints as unfounded, with Puneet Anand, associate vice president at Hyundai Motor India, saying "We are very confident that we haven't seen any glaring issues on social media that warrant a rethink of the government's biofuel blending program," according to Business Standard.
The controversy intensified after a social media video claimed E20 petrol had caused problems in a Toyota Hycross, but Toyota Kirloskar Motor provided a detailed technical assessment clarifying the situation. According to Toyota's statement, "Further, based on our detailed technical assessment of the vehicle, the issue was due to fuel contamination. Our inspection confirmed that there was no damage to any vehicle component or its fuel system." The company advised customers to refuel only at authorised and reputed fuel stations, emphasizing that the issue was caused by contaminated fuel, not ethanol blending itself. Vikram Gulati, country head at Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said a widely shared case involving a Toyota Innova Hycross allegedly damaged by E20 was traced to contaminated fuel rather than ethanol blending, as reported by Business Standard. He also rejected claims that ethanol attracts ants, saying "gasoline's odor repels insects." This development highlights the importance of proper fuel handling and quality control in maintaining vehicle performance with E20 fuel.
The Supreme Court on Monday directed that the existing ethanol supply allocation for the 2025-26 ethanol supply year be maintained while hearing an appeal filed by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL). A vacation bench of the apex court passed the interim order after hearing Attorney General R. Venkataramani, who appeared on behalf of BPCL. The court also issued notices to 24 respondents, including the Union government and 23 distilleries, on the public sector oil marketer's appeal. The clarification came after the Supreme Court directed status quo on a Karnataka High Court order that had asked OMCs to consider enhancing ethanol allocation for Ethanol Supply Year 2025-26 to a dedicated ethanol manufacturer. The apex court was hearing a plea filed by BPCL, which argued that implementing the high court's order would disrupt the national policy of achieving 20% ethanol blending in petrol.
Seeking to reassure motorists, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday compared ethanol fuel with its use in motor racing. "They use it in racing cars also, the acceleration increases. Mileage, yes, it may drop a little," Puri said. The government says E20 helps reduce carbon emissions, cuts crude oil imports, saves foreign exchange and supports farm incomes by increasing demand for agricultural feedstock used in ethanol production. Puri also highlighted the historical context of ethanol usage, noting that "We did not invent the concept of ethanol usage; work on this has been going on for a century. Henry Ford, the owner of the Ford Motor Company, drove cars using biofuels, kerosene, and fossil fuels back in his day." He recalled his time as Ambassador to Brazil between 2006 and 2008, when the Congress government had set a target of achieving 5% biofuel blending across ten states and union territories, though they stalled at 1.4%. Puri said Saturday that any move to raise ethanol blending to 25% from 20% would be undertaken only after rigorous testing and consultations with stakeholders, as reported by Business Standard. He added that India's strategy to diversify transport fuels would rely on multiple technologies, including biofuels, batteries and compressed natural gas.
