India's Push for Ethanol-Blended Fuel Sparks Driver Discontent

According to foreign media reports, the Indian government is currently facing strong opposition from car owners after promoting E20, a blended fuel containing 20% ethanol, nationwide. Since some automakers have not clearly stated the compatibility of their vehicles with this fuel, many people are concerned that this new type of fuel might affect the performance of older vehicles.

As the world's third-largest automobile market, India set a target years ago to achieve widespread use of blended fuel containing 20% ethanol (E20) by 2025, as part of Prime Minister Modi's clean energy plan.

Image Source: Mahindra Automotive

In recent weeks, nearly 90,000 gas stations in India have almost exclusively offered E20 fuel. The lower ethanol blend fuels, such as E5 and E10, which are generally considered more suitable for older vehicles, have mostly been discontinued, leaving car owners with no other options.

The Indian government states that E20 fuel can reduce carbon emissions, but in a news statement responding to consumer concerns, it also acknowledges that using this fuel in older vehicles may "slightly" affect fuel efficiency.

Automobile manufacturers are already facing difficulties due to declining sales and a shortage of rare earth magnets. Now, the ambiguous guidance on ethanol gasoline fuel compatibility has further exacerbated consumer dissatisfaction caused by the "lack of choices." It is reported that a public interest litigation regarding this fuel policy will be heard soon in the Supreme Court of India.

Two gas station managers in Lucknow, a city in northern India, said that drivers are furious, and some gas stations have stopped proactively informing customers about fuel changes.

The Ministry of Petroleum and the Ministry of Road Transport of India did not respond to requests for comment on the aforementioned report.

In August, India's Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri stated, "India's ethanol promotion process is unstoppable," adding that "some vested interest lobbying groups are deliberately creating confusion."

A few days after Hardeep made the above remarks, the Indian Ministry of Petroleum stated, "For some older vehicles, it may be necessary to replace certain rubber components and gaskets," and described this as a "simple process."

Automakers are eager to alleviate consumers' concerns, but they have yet to provide a clear answer regarding the future fuel adaptation of older vehicles.

In its FAQ section on the official website, Škoda stated that models sold in India before April 2020 were “not evaluated for E20 fuel compatibility.” The company later issued a statement saying that vehicles sold after April 2020 were “fully compatible with E20 in terms of materials,” but did not specify how older vehicles should be handled.

Toyota stated in a statement that the use of E20 fuel in its vehicles may result in a "slight change" in fuel economy.

On September 1st, Renault informed a tech consultant, Ankur Thakur, via email that the Renault Triber model he purchased in 2022 "has not been tested for E20 fuel" and it is "not recommended" to use this fuel.

Thakur posted a screenshot of the email on the social media platform X, which quickly attracted widespread attention, garnering over 700,000 views. Subsequently, Renault informed Thakur and issued a statement to Reuters on August 29, stating that, according to government tests, E20 fuel poses “no significant threat” to older vehicles.

However, Thakur is not convinced and now chooses to purchase higher-priced ethanol-free fuel at some gas stations.

After verification by foreign media, it was found that an Audi Q3 sold in India last year had a clear label on the fuel tank cap and in the user manual stating that only E5 or E10 fuel is recommended. On the 2024 Mahindra Scorpio model, there is also a prominent label on the fuel tank stating: "Caution: For use with petrol/E10 fuel only." However, as of now, neither Audi nor Mahindra has made any public response to this matter.