Hardeep Puri Says Carmakers Are Comfortable With E20 Fuel Transition
Hardeep Puri responds to concerns over E20 fuel.
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has defended the government’s ethanol blending policy, calling the controversy surrounding E20 petrol a result of “misreporting and misinterpretation.” He said the government welcomes constructive criticism but will not accept what he described as unfounded claims and rumours regarding the use of biofuel-blended petrol.
The minister’s comments came amid social media discussions where some users have claimed that E20 fuel, which contains 20 per cent ethanol blended with petrol, affects vehicle mileage, attracts pests, or causes damage to engines. Puri said such claims do not match the experience of vehicle users, automobile manufacturers, and service providers who have supported the fuel’s use.
Questioning the timing of the criticism, Puri said millions of vehicles have already been using ethanol-blended fuel without reported widespread problems. He pointed out that India has around 20 crore two-wheelers and several lakh four-wheelers operating with blended fuel, while automobile companies and service networks have also indicated that vehicles designed for E20 are compatible with the fuel.
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Puri said India had already been using E15 fuel for more than three years and moved to E20 petrol in April 2025. He added that any future move towards higher ethanol blending levels, such as E25 or E85, would only happen after detailed testing, evaluation of reports, and consultations with stakeholders, including automobile manufacturers.
The minister said car manufacturers are comfortable with E20 fuel and have issued statements regarding vehicle compatibility. He added that he neither manufactures vehicles nor produces fuel but relies on technical assessments and feedback from industry stakeholders before making policy decisions.
The government has promoted ethanol blending as part of its broader strategy to reduce dependence on imported crude oil, cut carbon emissions, and provide economic support to farmers and the agricultural sector. The rollout of E20 petrol has been expanded across the country after compatibility assessments involving automobile manufacturers and research organisations, while future expansion of higher ethanol blends will depend on infrastructure development and further testing.
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