E20 mileage row: Govt says fuel alone can't be blamed; cites driving & maintenance

NEW DELHI: The government on Saturday said E20 petrol alone cannot be blamed for changes in vehicle mileage, stressing that real-world fuel economy depends on several factors, including driving habits, traffic conditions, vehicle maintenance, tyre pressure and air-conditioning use. The ministry of petroleum and natural gas said E20 had undergone extensive testing and validation across key vehicle parameters, including engine durability, drivability, startability, material compatibility and corrosion resistance. “Mileage depends on more than fuel alone. Driving habits, traffic, vehicle maintenance, tyre pressure and AC usage all play a role,” the ministry said on X. “E20 has undergone extensive testing and validation, while real-world mileage depends on the overall driving and vehicle conditions,” it added. The clarification comes amid continuing concerns among motorists over the impact of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol on mileage, vehicle performance and compatibility. The government has previously acknowledged that some vehicles may see a 3-5 per cent reduction in fuel economy with E20, while maintaining that actual mileage also varies with driving and vehicle-related factors. The ministry added that E20's testing covered engine durability, drivability, startability, material compatibility and corrosion resistance. It described the fuel as “E20 Tested. Validated. E20 Ready.”, saying the evaluations support confidence in E20 compatibility and vehicle performance. The government and state-run oil marketing companies have also pushed back against broader concerns over alleged fuel contamination. Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum said nationwide testing found no evidence of high chloride contamination or excessive moisture in E20 petrol. More than 100 petrol samples from refineries recorded chloride levels at or below one part per million, while ethanol samples from 80 distilleries and more than 80 E20 samples from depots and terminals recorded chloride levels below the prescribed limit of three ppm. The oil marketing companies also said inspections of underground storage tanks at around 90,000 fuel stations found no water ingress. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said oil marketing companies conducted rigorous testing at retail outlets, with only a few cases of contamination detected. [Image text:] E20- PETROL ETHANOL20%BLEND E20 PETROL ETHANOL 20%