E20 Petrol Mileage Drop Is Minor, Says Hardeep Puri Amid Social Media Backlash

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri has defended the government's E20 petrol rollout, saying the mileage reduction from ethanol-blended fuel is minor. Puri addressed the concerns during a press conference on Thursday, pushing back against what he called a make-believe narrative on social media.

Mileage Impact on E20 Petrol

Puri acknowledged that mileage may drop slightly on E20 petrol but said the dip can occur due to various factors, not ethanol alone. The Automotive Research Association of India has previously pegged the fuel efficiency dip at 1 to 6 percent for vehicles running on the 20 percent ethanol blend.

Image Source: PTI

The minister said ethanol is also used in racing cars, where it improves acceleration and reduces knocking. He cited this as evidence that ethanol blending does not compromise engine performance despite the mileage trade-off.

Insurance and Regulatory Backing

Puri clarified that vehicle insurance coverage remains unaffected by the switch to E20 petrol, addressing rumours that had circulated regarding compliance issues. He said India adopted the 20 percent ethanol threshold only after consultations with the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers and the Automotive Research Association of India and other stakeholders.

VIDEO | Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) addresses concerns over ethanol-blended fuel.

Addressing a press conference in Delhi, he says, "Somebody is saying that fuel mileage is going to drop. It is now well established that ethanol is even used in… pic.twitter.com/pzFN4f0o6y

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 2, 2026

Future Ethanol Blending Plans

Puri said any move from E20 to E25 blending would happen only after all required tests are completed. The Bureau of Indian Standards notified IS 19850:2026 in May 2026, covering E22 to E30 ethanol-petrol blends, laying the regulatory groundwork for blends beyond E20.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has also mandated that all E20 petrol sold from April 1, 2026 must meet a minimum Research Octane Number of 95, a move aimed at improving combustion stability and reducing knocking risk in ethanol-rich blends.

Fuel Price Outlook

Puri, the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, said a cut in retail petrol and diesel prices would become a legitimate question if global crude oil prices remain stable at current levels for the next few weeks. He added that it was too early to speculate on an immediate price reduction.