India has begun rolling out E20 fuel—a blend of 80% petrol and 20% ethanol—as part of its efforts to reduce oil imports, cut carbon emissions, and support sugarcane farmers. However, the move has sparked controversy, prompting the Supreme Court to hear a public interest litigation on the matter. While E20 fuel has been gradually introduced since 2023, older blends like E5 and E10—more compatible with older vehicles—have been phased out across most of India’s 90,000 fuel stations.
Although ethanol is cheaper than petrol, E20 is priced nearly the same at fuel pumps. The main concern for consumers is reduced mileage. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), E20 is not a safety risk, but it does reduce fuel efficiency—scientific studies suggest a 2-4% drop, which could be higher in real-world conditions.
To meet the E20 target, India needs over 1,000 crore litres of ethanol yearly. Current capacity is around 1,810 crore litres, a major jump from 421 crore litres in 2013. While ethanol blending cuts CO2 emissions, it raises other pollutants like aldehydes and worsens water scarcity due to sugarcane farming.
