Why can’t you choose between pure gasoline, E10 and E20? Here is what the Ministry of Petroleum | Today’s news

Consumers are unlikely to be given a choice between pure gasoline, E10 and E20 at gas stations because maintaining separate nationwide fuel supply chains would be logistically complex, economically inefficient and unnecessary, the Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas said Friday. The ministry argued that E20 was a cleaner, technologically superior fuel, backed by extensive testing and industry support.

“E20 offers a significantly higher octane rating, superior anti-knock properties, faster combustion, better sensing, smoother acceleration and cleaner engine operation. It produces negligible particulate emissions and reduces life-cycle carbon emissions by approximately 40%,” the ministry said in a statement.

“It’s simply a cleaner, better quality and more efficient fuel than E10 or pure gasoline,” he added.

Transition planned with car companies

Quick answers to key questions

•5 QUESTIONS

The Ministry of Petroleum has stated that maintaining separate fuel chains for pure E10 and E20 gasoline is logistically complex and economically inefficient, making it unnecessary.

E20 offers a higher octane rating, better anti-knock properties, smoother acceleration and produces significantly lower emissions compared to E10 and pure gasoline.

The government consulted with car manufacturers and experts to ensure compatibility, resulting in almost all manufacturers honoring warranties on vehicles using E20 after extensive testing.

Some vehicles may experience a 3-5% reduction in fuel consumption when using E20, but the ministry says mileage is only one aspect of overall performance.

E20 is supported because it reduces oil imports, supports domestic ethanol production and increases energy security, while being environmentally friendly with lower emissions.

In response to concerns about a lack of choice for consumers and the compatibility of older vehicles with E20 fuel, the department said the transition to higher ethanol blending was planned in consultation with automakers, component suppliers, testing agencies and research institutions.

According to the ministry, automakers were invited during the E10 rollout as early as 2020-21, with India reaching its target of 10% ethanol blending in gasoline by June 2022, five months ahead of schedule.

For E20, the government said it followed an even more rigorous process. The plan was published in 2021 and every aspect, including materials compatibility, engine calibration, fuel systems, durability, emissions and fuel efficiency, was evaluated before national adoption.

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The ministry added that vehicle manufacturers would not support E20 or honor warranties if they were not satisfied with the test results. It said almost all car manufacturers are currently honoring warranties on existing and new E20 vehicles as they were part of the consultation process.

The center admits a slight drop in mileage

Citing industry data, the ministry said Maruti Suzuki serviced 2.84 million vehicles during the 2025-26 fiscal year, including 1.5 million older vehicles that were not E20 certified, without reporting any E20-related corrosion, abnormal wear or reduced component life. Hero MotoCorp also announced a similar experience in the field.

The government acknowledged that fuel economy could be reduced by 3-5% for some vehicles, but argued that mileage was only one aspect of overall performance.

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“Maruti Suzuki serviced 2.84 million vehicles during the 2025-2026 fiscal year, including 1.5 million older non-E20 certified vehicles, and reported no E20-related corrosion, abnormal wear or damage to component life. Hero MotoCorp reported similar field experiences. This real-world evidence is far more reliable than the ministry’s isolated anecdotes,” the ministry said.

“It’s true that some vehicles can reduce fuel consumption by 3 to 5%. But mileage is only one parameter,” he added.

According to the ministry, E20 also offers a higher octane rating, better anti-knock properties, smoother acceleration, cleaner engine operation and significantly lower lifecycle particulate and carbon emissions.

Why motorists have no choice

The ministry also rejected proposals for gas stations to stock pure E10 and E20 gasoline at the same time.

India’s network of over one million fuel retail outlets, supported by refineries, terminals, warehouses and pipelines, is designed for efficient fuel distribution on a large scale. Maintaining three parallel fuel streams would increase logistics costs, complicate inventory management, and reduce operational efficiency.

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He also argued that the comparison to premium gasoline is misplaced because premium fuels are specialized products containing specialized additives rather than separate nationwide base fuel streams.

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The ministry further highlighted the scale of investments made under the ethanol blending program and said that public sector banks have financed almost ₹1 lakh crore annually for ethanol production and related infrastructure.

A return to lower ethanol blends would undermine investment by farmers, cooperatives, entrepreneurs, financial institutions and public sector companies based on long-term government policy, she said.

The government has argued that its ethanol blending program balances consumer interests with energy security, environmental sustainability and farmer welfare, while reducing India’s dependence on imported oil. She reiterated that E20 is a cleaner and more efficient fuel that supports lower emissions, better energy security and higher incomes for farmers.