New Delhi: Industry leaders on Saturday asserted that India’s transition to E20 petrol has been a carefully planned and scientifically validated process, dismissing concerns over the use of ethanol-blended fuel in vehicles and highlighting that both automobiles and fuel have been designed for E20 compatibility since 2023.
Speaking at a media interaction, Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer (Corporate Affairs) at Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said the move to E20 petrol was implemented in phases rather than as a sudden policy change. He explained that India had initially adopted E10 petrol before mandating E20 material compliance for vehicles from 2023, ensuring that new vehicles are compatible with the higher ethanol blend.
Bharti said recent concerns regarding ethanol usage in vehicles overlook the extensive planning and preparation undertaken by the government and the automotive industry before the nationwide rollout.
Former Chairman and Managing Director of Engineers India Ltd, Vartika Shukla, said India’s ethanol blending programme has achieved significant progress over the past decade. She noted that ethanol accounted for only about 1.5 per cent of petrol blending during 2013–14, but the country successfully achieved the E20 target in December 2025, five years ahead of the original schedule.
According to Shukla, the programme was developed through detailed consultations with stakeholders and supported by scientific evidence as well as comprehensive testing conducted by automobile manufacturers, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). She added that the initiative is consistent with global practices aimed at lowering carbon emissions.
Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President (Corporate Affairs and Governance) at Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said the automotive industry follows stringent regulatory standards covering vehicle quality, emissions, safety, and performance. He said every vehicle undergoes rigorous testing, certification, and homologation before entering the market, while fuel quality is also regulated under strict specifications.
Emphasising the environmental advantages of ethanol, Gulati said the plant-based fuel contributes to India’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.
The experts maintained that the E20 fuel programme has been implemented through a structured and evidence-based approach, ensuring consumer safety, vehicle compatibility, and long-term environmental benefits while supporting India’s broader clean energy and decarbonisation goals.
