Ethanol-Blended Petrol Push: Govt Dismisses Concerns About Engine Malfunctions, Cites Brazil's Gains

In a bid to cut emissions and reliance on energy imports, as India proceeds with its ethanol-blended petrol programme, the government on Friday dismissed concerns over high ethanol-blended petrol’s impact on car engines. Speaking at the Pioneer Biofuels 360° Summit, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said that there have been no reports of engine malfunctions.

Confidence In E20 Ethanol Fuel Safety

Notably, India targeting E20 as the standard fuel grade by April 2025, and is moving towards entering a global club of cleaner automotive fuels. 

Citing Brazil's example, Puri told reporters in New Delhi: "Despite resistance and misinformation, the transition to E20 has been proven safe and effective. The same global auto manufacturers who operate in Brazil with E27 fuels have no issue there, and they shouldn’t in India either. The future of clean energy in India is not only secure, it is accelerating ahead of schedule. We are confident in the ecosystem we have created."

"We have to look at ethanol blending or biogas with a different set of challenges. A lot of people used to say that we have to look at food security; I used to think that even then it was a baloney argument, and now I am convinced even more. In India, if you go the biofuel way, who will be the beneficiaries? The agricultural sector and the farmers," Puri added, highlighting the economic benefits of ethanol blending.

Brazil's Experience With Ethanol Blending

Brazil and many European nations have already adopted high-ethanol blended fuel. Brazil started large-scale ethanol blending in the 1970s, in an attempt to counter the global oil crisis.

"E27 fuel is operating in Brazil. Ethanol is mixed in the basic blend of up to 27 per cent... Brazil is a country three times our area, one-sixth of our population, with 22 per cent of the world's fresh water reserves. For them, sugar is not a problem," the Union Minister noted.

"If you believe in development – whether scientific, economic, or environmental – you must recognise the transformation India has undergone since 2014 in the biofuels sector. Earlier, targets like 5 percent blending remained aspirational. But under the leadership of the Prime Minister, we built an entire ecosystem to deliver results. We achieved 10 percent ethanol blending ahead of the 2022 target, and now, we’ve reached 20 percent blending five years ahead of the deadline."

Automakers' Concerns

Notably, while E20 fuel offers environmental benefits, auto manufacturers and buyers are raising concerns about potential hazards when using this fuel blend in current automobiles. Numerous older car models were designed specifically for E10 compatibility. Media reports and comments from car owners online have expressed concerns that using E20 could lead to malfunctions, reduced efficiency, and voided warranties. 

A number of recent vehicle models feature ethanol-compatible parts and enhanced engine management systems capable of processing E20. Automakers have urged authorities to implement this transition incrementally while making fuel labels at fuel stations clearer.