'Car Manufacturers Comfortable With Fuel': Hardeep Puri Rejects Engine Damage Claims Amid E20 Row

Published 7 July 2026 · local

'Car Manufacturers Comfortable With Fuel': Hardeep Puri Rejects Engine Damage Claims Amid E20 Row Published By, Last Updated: July 07, 2026, 21:28 IST Hardeep Singh

'Car Manufacturers Comfortable With Fuel': Hardeep Puri Rejects Engine Damage Claims Amid E20 Row Published By, Last Updated: July 07, 2026, 21:28 IST Hardeep Singh Puri added that automobile manufacturers as well as vehicle service providers had reported no difficulties with E20 fuel. File image of Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. (Source: PTI) Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday dismissed claims surrounding India’s E20 ethanol-blended petrol programme, calling them a “misinterpretation." Reacting to the claims circulating on social media, Puri stated there was no evidence to prove that the fuel led to engine damage in compatible vehicles. He added that automobile manufacturers as well as vehicle service providers had reported no difficulties with E20 fuel. “It is a misinterpretation and I don’t want to use stronger words. There are 20 crore two-wheelers on the road and 20 lakh four-wheelers using this fuel. The automobile manufacturers, as well as the people who service these vehicles, all say there is no difficulty.

Why this sudden interest?" the Petroleum Minister told reporters in Delhi. #WATCH | Delhi | Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri says, “…There are 20 crore two-wheelers on the road and 20 lakh four-wheelers using this fuel. The automobile manufacturers, as well as the people who service these vehicles, all say there is no… pic.twitter.com/PdZER4RB1c— ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2026 Debate Over E20 Fuel Puri’s remarks come amid growing debate over E20 petrol, fuelled by social media posts and consumer complaints alleging lower mileage, engine damage and speculation that the government may eventually raise ethanol blending beyond 20 per cent. Rejecting the concerns, the Minister said they were based on misinformation rather than facts. He noted that India has been using E15 fuel for more than three years, while E20 has been available across the country since April last year without widespread problems. “We have been using E15 for the last three and a half years. We have been on E20 since April of last year.

From April 2025 to April 2026, it has already been one year, and we are now another five months beyond that," he added. He reiterated that any proposal to introduce higher ethanol blends would be guided by scientific testing and consultations with stakeholders. He said trials of E25 petrol are still in progress and no decision will be taken until the results are assessed with automobile manufacturers. Will Evaluate Tests On E25: Puri “If someone is suggesting E25, we have made it clear that we are conducting tests. Those tests will take time. Once the reports are available, we will evaluate them. Then we will discuss the findings with the stakeholders and the automobile manufacturers." He added that automakers support E20-compatible vehicles and said the rollout of E85 fuel is in its early stages, requiring additional refuelling infrastructure before wider adoption. “The car manufacturers are comfortable with E20. Each one of them has made a statement to that effect. Consumers also appreciate the product. We have only begun the rollout of E85 (blend of 85% ethanol and 15% petrol), and that rollout will take some time because new petrol pumps and related infrastructure need to be put in place…," he further said.