New Delhi, April 1 -- Effective Wednesday, every petrol pump in India will dispense petrol blended with 20% ethanol (E20), following a government mandate announced last month. The nationwide rollout pushes ahead even as most vehicles on the road are not built for the fuel, raising concerns over efficiency and engine wear.

While higher ethanol blending is aimed at reducing India's crude import dependence amid a global energy crisis following the war in West Asia, vehicle readiness remains limited.

A Mint analysis of vehicle registration data from the transport ministry's Vahan dashboard shows that fewer than 30% of petrol passenger vehicles and two-wheelers registered in 2025 were ethanol-compliant. About 0.9 million passenger vehicles w...