The year of E20 petrol: 50% of petrol vehicle owners want to switch back to E0 or E10 before 2023, survey shows | Today’s news
More than a year after India completed the nationwide adoption of E20 petrol, meeting its 20 percent ethanol blending target ahead of the 2030 deadline, the impact on owners of older petrol vehicles is becoming more apparent, a survey revealed on Friday.
A survey by LocalCircles has shown that many vehicle owners have reported reduced mileage and unusual wear and tear, which is now increasingly translating into tangible financial costs. This comes despite the government’s push for more ethanol consumption continuing to gather pace.
The survey received 42,000 responses from owners of old gasoline vehicles (models before 2023), located in 316 districts. 66 percent of the respondents were male and 34 percent were female, of which 42 percent of the respondents were from Tier I, 32 percent from Tier II, and 26 percent of the respondents were from Tier III, IV, V and rural districts.
However, a significant number of consumers say the increase in fuel consumption and vehicle repair costs they experience exceeds the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) estimate that E20 fuel would reduce mileage by only one to six percent.
Concerns about older gasoline vehicles are growing
In addition, the survey indicates that the experiences of these consumers are not unique. A year after the nationwide introduction of E20 gasoline, the concerns of owners of older gasoline vehicles are still growing. A survey of 50,000 owners of gasoline vehicles purchased in 2022 or earlier found that one in two respondents experienced reduced fuel economy from the start of 2025. At least three in 10 reported unusual wear or increased repair needs affecting components such as the engine, fuel line, tank and carburetor.
The findings also suggest that the impact of E20 gasoline on older vehicles may be more fundamental than official estimates suggest, raising questions about vehicle compatibility, running costs and consumer choice as India moves to higher ethanol blends.
50 percent of the owners had to bear the additional costs
The survey also revealed that five out of 10 owners of old petrol vehicles had to bear additional costs ₹5,000 a ₹25,000 from early 2025 due to reduced mileage and/or increased repairs.
When asked how much additional spending vehicle owners incurred from the start of 2025, nine percent of the 20,587 respondents answered more than ₹25,000, six percent said between ₹15,000-25,000.17 percent said between ₹10,000-15,000; Stated 20 percent ₹5,000-10,000; six percent stated up to ₹5,000. Only 11 percent said they did not incur any additional expenses, while 25 percent did not give a clear answer.
In total, at least 52 percent of owners of old gasoline vehicles had to incur additional costs due to reduced mileage and/or increased repairs.
This is a developing story. Further details were awaited.
