E20 Fuel Faces First Public Backlash As Motorists Report Mileage Drop, Engine Issues

First E20 Fuel Protest Held In Delhi; Motorists Allege Mileage Loss, Vehicle Damage

The country’s first on-ground protest against the Centre’s E20 fuel rollout was held at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Sunday, with motorists alleging that the higher ethanol blend has reduced fuel efficiency and caused mechanical issues in their vehicles. While the government maintains that E20 petrol is safe for compatible vehicles, protesters demanded greater transparency, consumer choice and a review of the policy’s implementation.

The demonstration, organised by Team Bharat under the banner “Hamaari Gaadi, Hamaara Adhikaar”, was led by entrepreneur and television personality Tehseen Poonawalla. Participants said their opposition was directed at the implementation of the ethanol-blending programme rather than any political party, with several describing the protest as non-partisan.

Although complaints about E20 fuel have been widely shared on social media in recent months, Sunday’s gathering marked the first organised public demonstration against the policy.

Motorists Share Experiences

Several protesters claimed they had experienced a noticeable drop in mileage after switching to E20 fuel.

Sarthak, a software engineer from Gurugram, said his 2018 Maruti Baleno’s fuel efficiency had declined significantly over the past few months.

“My mileage has fallen from around 18 kmpl to less than 14 kmpl,” he claimed.

Delhi resident Raj Singh alleged that he spent over Rs 35,000 repairing his car after developing fuel system issues.

“I had been using E20 fuel for seven months when my car suddenly started losing power and the engine warning light came on. The fuel system had to be cleaned and several parts replaced,” he claimed.

Another participant, Mudit Agarwal, said his Skoda Slavia stopped unexpectedly while driving and had to be towed.

“The service adviser told me ethanol could be the reason. They said several vehicles with similar complaints were coming to the workshop every day,” he alleged.

Calls For Consumer Choice

Many protesters said they were not opposed to ethanol blending but objected to having limited fuel options.

Himanshu Sharma questioned why motorists could not choose between E20 and conventional petrol.

“They should give consumers a choice. If I want regular petrol, I should be able to buy it,” he said.

A doctor from Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad, who did not wish to be identified, also claimed he had noticed a sharp decline in mileage despite maintaining his vehicle carefully.

“I support scientific policy decisions, but they should be backed by evidence and should not come at the cost of consumers,” he said.

Auto enthusiast and rally driver Ratan Dhillon, who is associated with Team Bharat, alleged that ethanol-blended petrol contributes to clogged fuel filters and pipelines. He claimed the group intended to present technical evidence before the courts to support its case.

Government Rejects Allegations

The Centre has consistently rejected claims that E20 petrol causes excessive engine wear, fuel system damage or abnormal mileage loss in compatible vehicles.

Ahead of Sunday’s protest, automobile and energy experts defended the ethanol-blending programme, saying extensive testing had found no evidence that E20 harms vehicles designed to operate on the fuel.

The government has described ethanol blending as a key measure to reduce crude oil imports, lower carbon emissions and increase farmers’ income by expanding demand for ethanol.

Critics, however, argue that many older vehicles on Indian roads were originally designed for lower ethanol blends and have called for a phased transition similar to those adopted in countries such as Brazil and the United States.

While the turnout at Jantar Mantar was modest, protesters said the demonstration reflected growing concerns among motorists over the impact of E20 fuel. They urged the government to commission independent studies, improve public communication and offer consumers the option to choose between different fuel blends.