23% report over 20% mileage drop: E20 survery claims sharp loss in efficiency

Summary

A fresh survey has reignited concerns over the impact of E20 petrol on older petrol vehicles, with a growing number of owners reporting significant drops in fuel efficiency and higher maintenance requirements more than a year after India completed the nationwide rollout of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol. The findings come on the same day the Central Government informed the Supreme Court that the ethanol blending programme remains an ongoing experiment and that its full impact on vehicles is expected to become clear only by 2027. While the Centre reiterated its commitment to the programme as a key pillar of India's energy security and emissions reduction strategy, the latest consumer survey suggests that concerns among owners of older vehicles continue to intensify. According to a nationwide survey conducted by citizen engagement platform LocalCircles , 66 per cent of owners of petrol vehicles manufactured before 2023 said their vehicle's fuel efficiency has dropped by more than 10 per cent since early 2025, a sharp increase from 45 per cent recorded in a similar survey conducted in May 2026. India completed the nationwide rollout of E20 petrol in April 2025, achieving its 20 per cent ethanol blending target several years ahead of the original 2030 timeline. On June 30, during a hearing before the Supreme Court in a case related to ethanol allocation for the 2025-26 supply year, Attorney General R Venkataramani informed the court that the ethanol blending programme remains an ongoing exercise and its complete impact will be understood only by 2027. The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has previously estimated that E20 fuel could reduce fuel efficiency by around 1 to 6 per cent. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has already notified standards for E22 to E30 fuels, signalling the government's intent to gradually expand ethanol blending beyond the current 20 per cent level in the future. The debate over ethanol-blended fuel is expected to continue as India balances its ambitious energy transition goals with concerns from millions of owners of older petrol vehicles. While the government maintains that the programme remains scientifically validated and essential for reducing oil imports and emissions, growing consumer feedback suggests that the experience of legacy vehicles may require closer monitoring and further policy intervention.