‘Automobile manufacturers say no difficulty with E20 fuel’: Hardeep Puri

Hardeep Puri: E20 Fuel Transition Faces No Industry Objections

Minister Calls Reports of Concerns 'Misrepresentation'

Automobile manufacturers say no difficulty - Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri dismissed claims about E20 fuel as "misrepresentation," highlighting that automobile producers have confirmed no operational issues with the blend. He emphasized industry confidence, stating that both manufacturers and service providers have expressed "no difficulty" in adopting the fuel.

“Automobile makers and service professionals all affirm there’s no trouble with E20. Why the sudden focus?” Puri remarked, per ANI news agency.

Political Pushback and Consumer Feedback

Puri noted India’s steady progress in ethanol integration, mentioning that E15 has been in use for three and a half years, while E20 has been available since April 2023. He added that the transition has now surpassed the initial two-year period, with the policy set to continue.

“We’ve been on E20 since April 2023. The time frame from April 2024 to April 2025 has already passed, and we’re five months beyond that,” ANI quoted Puri as stating.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has intensified criticism of the government’s ethanol-blending strategy, with national convenor Arvind Kejriwal demanding written commitments from three automakers—Maruti Suzuki, Toyota Kirloskar, and Hero MotoCorp—on their support for the fuel. He accused them of conflicting statements between public claims and internal guidelines.

“Your owner manual says one thing, but your public statements say another. Will you compensate customers if mileage drops by more than 10%?” Kejriwal asserted.

Minister Gadkari Challenges Claims

Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari questioned the validity of complaints against E20 petrol, asking for specific examples. “Is there a single car in the country that faced problems due to E20? Just name one,” he challenged.

Manish Kashyap's Allegation and Toyota's Denial

Social media and political debates have amplified concerns about E20, including a video by Manish Kashyap, a YouTuber and Jan Suraaj Party activist from Bohar. He claimed his vehicle developed engine issues after using E20 fuel. However, Toyota refuted the claim, attributing the problem to general fuel contamination rather than E20 itself.

Government Proceeds with E25 Testing

Puri reiterated that the government is not hastening the move to E25, stating tests are ongoing. “We’ve made it clear we’re conducting tests. These will take time, and once results are in, we’ll assess them,” he said.

“After all, I don’t manufacture cars or fuel,” the minister added.

The ministers’ comments followed growing scrutiny of ethanol-blended petrol, with critics accusing the government of promoting "false narratives" through "paid campaigns."