E20 petrol, which contains 20% ethanol, implemented across the country is now proving to be a headache for vehicle owners. The government may be calling it a historic step towards green energy, but the experiences of common people are telling a different story. According to a new survey conducted across the country, while this new blended fuel has reduced the mileage of vehicles, it has also increased the maintenance cost of old petrol vehicles.
What does the survey say?
A survey conducted by LocalCircles revealed that 8 out of 10 owners of vehicles purchased in 2022 or before said that the fuel efficiency of their vehicles has decreased in 2025. This figure was 67% in August, which increased to 80% in October. 36,000 vehicle owners from 323 districts across the country participated in the survey, out of which 69% were men and 31% were women. About half of these people were from tier-1 cities, while the rest were from tier-2 and small towns or rural areas.
Decreasing mileage…increasing complaints
Ever since E20 petrol has been made mandatory across the country from April 2025, complaints related to mileage and performance have increased rapidly. This problem is being seen especially in cars and two-wheelers purchased before 2023. Vehicle owners say that after using E20 petrol, their vehicles are consuming more petrol, while the government has been claiming that this fuel is safe for all vehicles.
Many users have shared their experiences on social media. Someone’s car is not starting in the morning, while someone is spending thousands of rupees on engine repair. A luxury car owner from Chennai said that his car’s engine failed due to E20 and he had to get repairs done worth about Rs 4 lakh. Mechanics in many cities of the country say that fuel related complaints have increased by about 40% since April.
Not only the mileage decline, but this fuel is proving to be even more harmful for old vehicles. According to LocalCircles, 52% of vehicle owners reported that their vehicles are experiencing more wear and tear and repair needs. In August this figure was only 28%, which doubled by October.
what kind of problem is happening
E20 petrol was made mandatory in India from April 2025, and since then there has been a flood of complaints regarding vehicle performance and mileage. Especially cars and two-wheelers manufactured before 2023 are not able to keep pace with this fuel.
Many vehicle owners have shared their experiences on social media:
- Cars are not starting.
- Thousands-lakhs of rupees have to be spent on engine repair.
- Many two-wheelers are showing symptoms like misfiring and engine jerking.
A luxury car owner in Chennai even said that he had to bear repair costs of ₹4 lakh after engine failure due to E20. Mechanics say fuel-related repairs have increased 40% since April.
The government says that the aim of the E20 initiative is to promote clean energy and provide better income to farmers, because ethanol Made from sugarcane. But the public says that this change is putting a heavy burden on the pockets of middle class vehicle owners. In a previous survey by LocalCircles, more than half of the people had opined that they would support E20 only if it is made optional and its price is kept 20% lower.
Ethanol in global market
If we talk about global level, then the trend of ethanol blending is increasing rapidly all over the world. The global ethanol market was worth $98.5 billion in 2024, which is expected to reach $205.2 billion by 2035. America and Brazil have been leaders in this sector and together produce about 80% of the world’s ethanol. At present, ethanol blending policies are implemented at different levels in more than 30 countries of the world. At some places E5, at some places E10 and at some places E27 fuel is being used.
In India too, work is being done rapidly in this direction, but the question is whether this change is really practical for the general public? This ‘Green Mission’, which started in the name of protecting the environment, is now becoming a ‘costly mission’ for the middle class. The steps that were taken to fight climate change are now proving to be heavy on both the health and pockets of vehicles.
What is E20 fuel?
E20 fuel is a petrol mixture that contains 20 percent ethanol and 80 percent conventional petrol. Ethanol is a bio-fuel made primarily from sugarcane, corn or other crops, and is used to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The aim of the government is to reduce pollution by promoting E20 and to provide additional income to farmers from crops. However, the engines and fuel systems of older vehicles are not designed for this high ethanol blending, due to which problems like reduced mileage, starting problems and increased maintenance costs are often seen.
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