Politics

Centre Defends E20 Fuel, Says Mileage Depends on More Than Ethanol Blend

Published: 16 August 2026 · 1 min read

What Happened

The Centre has pushed back against claims that E20 petrol (20% ethanol blend) is solely responsible for lower vehicle mileage. The Petroleum Ministry said fuel efficiency is influenced by multiple factors, including driving habits, traffic conditions, tyre pressure, vehicle maintenance, and air-conditioner usage. It also stated that E20 fuel has undergone extensive testing and meets quality standards.

Key Takeaways

While the government has previously acknowledged that E20 may reduce fuel economy by around 3-5% in some vehicles, it maintains that real-world mileage cannot be attributed to the ethanol blend alone.

Sources

Economic Times