New Delhi, July 27 -- The government has admitted it does not know what share of vehicles on Indian roads can fully handle E20 petrol, even as it continues to insist the fuel is safe to use.

Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi said the Ministry of Heavy Industries had confirmed that no such assessment of vehicle compatibility with E20, petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol, has been carried out.

Despite this gap, Gopi said the ethanol-blended petrol programme was rolled out in phases and backed by scientific testing involving NITI Aayog, vehicle manufacturers, oil marketing companies, the Automotive Research Association of India, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, and the Indian Institute of Petroleum. He said trials looking at engine durability, drivability, corrosion resistance, material compatibility, emissions and fuel efficiency had found E20 safe for use, and that older vehicles showed no unusual wear or performance issues because of the fuel.

The E20 rollout has faced pushback from opposition parties and consumer groups, who worry about its effect on older cars not built for such a high ethanol blend. They have asked whether all vehicles can truly run on E20, pointed to possible drops in mileage and higher upkeep costs, and demanded clarity on who bears responsibility if engines or fuel systems are damaged.

Gopi said E15-plus petrol has been sold widely for over three and a half years, and E19-E20 fuel for more than two and a half years, with over 20 crore two-wheelers and above 3 crore petrol cars now running on these blends. "There is no verified evidence of widespread engine failure or vehicle breakdown attributable to ethanol blending," he said, adding that carmakers are still honouring warranty claims for vehicles using E20.

On mileage, the government said fuel economy depends on driving conditions, habits and how well a vehicle is maintained. Any drop in mileage for vehicles built for E10 petrol is usually around 3 to 5 per cent, it said, while E20 brings a higher octane rating, better anti-knock properties and smoother engine performance, along with about 30 per cent lower carbon emissions than E10.

The government also cited industry figures, saying one major automaker serviced 2.84 crore vehicles in 2025-26, including 1.5 crore not originally certified for E20, without finding corrosion or wear tied to the fuel. Another company tracked 1.4 crore E20-run vehicles over an extended period with similar results.

Gopi said ethanol supply has been planned to also support future petrol demand growth and higher blends down the line, and that foodgrain use for ethanol is calibrated carefully, with food security and public distribution needs given top priority.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.