53% of petrol vehicle owners call E20 rollout ineffective or disastrous, claims survey
LocalCircles survey finds 66% of pre-2023 petrol vehicle owners report over 10% drop in mileage, while nearly one-third want the option to buy E0 or E10 petrol even at a higher price.
A survey has found widespread dissatisfaction among petrol vehicle owners, particularly those driving older vehicles not originally designed for higher ethanol blends.
According to a LocalCircles survey of 22,567 petrol vehicle owners across 316 districts, 53% of respondents rated the Road Transport and Petroleum ministries' handling of the E20 rollout as either "disastrous" or "ineffective". Of these, 42% described the rollout as "disastrous", while only 13% gave it a positive rating.
The survey also highlighted concerns over fuel efficiency and vehicle maintenance. Among owners of petrol vehicles manufactured before 2023, 66% said their vehicles now deliver over 10% lower mileage after the introduction of E20 petrol. Additionally, 45% reported a moderate to significant increase in wear and tear or repair requirements.
The findings also indicate growing demand for fuel choice. Nearly 31% of pre-2023 petrol vehicle owners said they would prefer the option to buy E0 or E10 petrol, even if it costs more than E20.
The survey comes amid the Centre's continued defence of its ethanol blending programme.
The government has maintained that ethanol blending reduces India's dependence on imported crude oil, lowers emissions and improves energy security while providing additional income to farmers.
From April 1, 2026, all E20 petrol sold in India has been required to meet a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95. The Bureau of Indian Standards has also notified fuel specifications for E22 to E30 blends, although the government's current roadmap remains focused on E20.
In July 2026, the Centre informed the Supreme Court that the long-term impact of ethanol blending would become clearer by 2027 while defending the programme against legal challenges.
Older vehicles remain at the centre of the debate
A major concern highlighted by the survey is that millions of vehicles currently on Indian roads were developed for lower ethanol blends.
Vehicles manufactured before April 2023 were largely designed for E10 fuel, while only vehicles produced from April 2025 onwards are considered fully E20-compatible. According to the survey, this has left a large number of owners dealing with lower fuel economy and increased maintenance costs.
Demand for lower-ethanol fuel option grows
The survey suggests that many vehicle owners are not opposing ethanol blending itself but are seeking greater flexibility.
With 31% of respondents expressing willingness to pay extra for E0 or E10 petrol, the findings indicate growing demand for parallel availability of lower-ethanol fuel for older vehicles.
The report also argues that upgrading older vehicles to improve E20 compatibility could require replacement of ethanol-sensitive fuel system components, adding to ownership costs.
Survey methodology
The LocalCircles survey received responses from 22,567 petrol vehicle owners across 316 districts in India. Of the respondents, 69% were men and 31% were women. Around 46% were from tier-1 districts, 32% from tier-2 districts and the remaining 22% from tier-3, tier-4, tier-5 and rural districts. According to LocalCircles, all respondents were registered and verified users of its platform.
Subscribe to Auto Today Magazine