C-Voter Survey Shows Voter Concerns Over E20 Fuel And Vehicle Impact
Survey highlights voter concerns over E20 fuel and vehicle compatibility.
A majority of respondents surveyed by C-Voter have expressed concerns over the government’s E20 ethanol-blended petrol programme, with more than half of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) voters saying they do not want to use the fuel in their vehicles. The nationwide survey found that many respondents fear lower fuel efficiency and possible damage to vehicle engines, raising questions about public acceptance of the government’s push for ethanol blending.
The C-Voter survey was conducted on July 8 and 9 among 1,641 people aged 18 and above across India. The findings were weighted according to demographic patterns based on Census data and the final Election Commission of India results. Respondents were asked 12 questions covering support for ethanol blending, its impact on fuel imports, energy security, pricing, and concerns related to vehicle compatibility.
According to the survey, 52 per cent of respondents said they do not support ethanol blending, while 25.9 per cent remained uncertain and only around 22 per cent supported the programme. More than half of respondents said they would prefer not to use E20, which contains 80 per cent petrol and 20 per cent ethanol, due to concerns over possible vehicle-related problems. Around 52.8 per cent cited reduced mileage, while 54.2 per cent expressed concerns about engine damage.
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The survey also showed that nearly 60 per cent of respondents across political groups believed the ethanol blending programme was being implemented too quickly without sufficient research. Around 76 per cent of participants supported the idea of making both ethanol-blended fuel and regular petrol available to consumers. A similar proportion said blended fuel should be priced lower than regular petrol to address concerns about potential risks, though only 40.8 per cent said they would purchase it even at a reduced price.
On the question of mandatory E20 use, 56.3 per cent of respondents said the policy could be unfair to owners of older vehicles that may not have been designed for higher ethanol blends. Among BJP voters, 49.2 per cent shared this concern. However, more than 43 per cent of BJP voters also believed ethanol blending could help reduce India’s fuel import costs and improve energy security.
The survey results come amid a wider debate over the government’s ethanol policy, which aims to reduce dependence on imported crude oil. Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has defended the programme, saying ethanol blending supports farmers, strengthens energy security, and has helped reduce foreign exchange outflow. He has also stated that technical concerns regarding mileage and engine effects are manageable and depend on vehicle conditions, while arguing that separate fuel options at petrol stations are difficult due to infrastructure limitations.
Also Read: Hardeep Puri Says Carmakers Are Comfortable With E20 Fuel Transition
