'There Is Some Fuel Efficiency Loss But...': Toyota Kirloskar Motor India Head On E20 Fuel

Published 3 July 2026 · local

'There Is Some Fuel Efficiency Loss But...': Toyota Kirloskar Motor India Head On E20 Fuel Published By, Last Updated: July 03, 2026, 22:16 IST Vikram

'There Is Some Fuel Efficiency Loss But...': Toyota Kirloskar Motor India Head On E20 Fuel Published By, Last Updated: July 03, 2026, 22:16 IST Vikram Gulati further stated that E20 has now become the standard fuel and is compatible with both older and newer vehicles. Rapid Read The Centre has been promoting ethanol blending as part of its strategy to reduce crude oil imports, lower carbon emissions and support India's biofuel economy. Amid growing concerns over the impact of E20 petrol on vehicle mileage and engine performance, Toyota Kirloskar Motor has sought to reassure consumers, saying fears over significant fuel efficiency loss and engine damage are largely misplaced. Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President (Corporate Affairs and Governance) at Toyota Kirloskar Motor, acknowledged that E20 fuel does result in a slight reduction in fuel efficiency but said the impact has been exaggerated. “There is a lot of misunderstanding about E20 fuel. Many people believe that using E20-blended petrol will damage their vehicles. That’s a myth.

It doesn’t happen that way," Gulati said. He added that while there is “some fuel efficiency loss, no doubt," it is “not as big as it is being made out to be." Clarifying the difference between various ethanol blends, Gulati said fuels such as E85 and E100 are not intended for regular passenger vehicles. “E85 and E100, which contain 85 per cent and 100 per cent ethanol respectively, are meant for fle fuel vehicles that are specifically designed to run on varying ethanol blends. Regular car owners need not worry about this," he said. #WATCH | Delhi: On ethanol, Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President (Corporate Affairs and Governance) of Toyota Kirloskar Motor, says, “…I think there is a lot of misunderstanding about the fuel. For example, if you look at it from the automotive sector, there… pic.twitter.com/oNJFrNYOYE— ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2026 Gulati further stated that E20 has now become the standard fuel and is compatible with both older and newer vehicles. “All vehicles sold after April 1, 2023, are fully compliant with E20 fuel.

Before the nationwide rollout of E20, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) conducted an extensive scientific study in 2021. The study found that the possibility of damage to older cars and two-wheelers was negligible. It also concluded that the reduction in fuel efficiency is only around 2 to 4 per cent, which is not significant," he said. What The Centre Said? To address concerns, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has also referred to the “Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India 2020–25", prepared by an inter-ministerial committee, which states that E20 petrol causes only a marginal reduction in fuel efficiency in four-wheelers originally designed to run on E10 fuel. The report noted that the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) informed the committee that improvements in engine hardware and calibration could further minimise any efficiency loss. It also found no major issues related to vehicle performance, engine wear, or engine oil deterioration during tests conducted with E20 fuel. The Centre has been promoting ethanol blending as part of its strategy to reduce crude oil imports, lower carbon emissions and support India’s biofuel economy.