Gasoline blended with up to 30% ethanol reported; compatibility, costs apply to car owners | Today’s news
The Indian government has paved the way for ethanol to be blended into petrol beyond the current 20% proportion. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on 18 May announced the E22, E25, E27 and E30 blend fuel standards for petrol blended with 22%, 25%, 27% and 30% ethanol respectively.
This move comes at a critical time for India for reasons detailed below.
In its notification, BIS laid down specifications for fuel blends made by blending automotive gasoline with anhydrous ethanol or ethanol that is completely free of moisture for use in “petrol engine-powered vehicles”.
This move appears to be a positive step to address the energy security concerns India is currently facing as well as the long-term impact of biofuels in reducing air pollution.
However, compatibility with the vehicles and the effect of the current E20 blend (and henceforth higher) on engine life and mileage was still debated.
Compatibility issues:
According to a report in Business Standard, India has about 24 million two-wheelers and 4 million cars on the road that were originally designed for lower ethanol blends.
Automakers and car owners are naturally concerned about how these vehicles will run on ethanol blends higher than the current E20 mandate.
In addition, ordinary vehicle owners have expressed concern about how higher ethanol blending will permanently affect the engine performance, mileage and long-term reliability of many vehicles.
Meanwhile, many car owners have expressed their curiosity about the cost-effectiveness of the blended fuel on social media – asking if ethanol fuel will cost less than petrol – even as the government raised petrol prices twice in the past week. Many have wondered whether it would be better to switch to electric cars or wait for the automakers to introduce E20-E30 compatible cars.
Read also | Automakers are looking to cheaper E85 fuel to encourage flex-fuel adoption
Fits: Maruti Suzuki
RC Bhargava, chairman of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, India’s largest carmaker, earlier told Mint that the company is capable of meeting the new standards.
“If the government decides to implement it and it becomes a standard requirement for everyone, we will meet it. We are capable of meeting it,” Bhargava said.
BIS standards set the technical requirements for the safe use of ethanol-blend fuels – including the percentage of ethanol to be blended with petrol, permissible impurity levels and test methods – providing car manufacturers, OMCs and component suppliers with a formal benchmark for certifying higher ethanol blends.
The standards are aimed at ensuring fuel compatibility with engines, fuel injection systems and vehicle components.
Read also | Chasing Brazil’s Biofuel Dream: Can India Go 100% Ethanol?
Ethanol lobby happy
Ethanol lobby group All India Distillers’ Association (AIDA) welcomed the move. “This is a progressive and forward-looking move that reinforces the government’s long-standing commitment to higher ethanol uptake, reduced oil dependence and a cleaner mobility ecosystem,” said AIDA President Vijendra Singh.
“The introduction of E25 fuel standards will provide temporary relief to the industry by helping to absorb current excess sugar and ethanol capacity,” he said.
According to All India Distillers’ Association data, ethanol production capacity in India as of March 2026 is about 20 billion litres, while demand under the 20% blending mandate is about 11 billion litres.
Why now:
The US-Iran dispute continues to weigh on oil prices, which has now been reflected in India as oil marketing companies (OMCs) hike petrol and diesel prices. CNG and LPG cylinder prices have also risen sharply.
And with war looming in West Asia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to limit non-essential travel, work from home and hold meetings online to save fuel.
Ethanol blending has become a priority for the government because it is produced domestically, primarily from sugar cane and grains. Meanwhile, India imports more than 85% of its oil needs.
Read also | Gasoline, diesel prices could jump further, economists share outlook
