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The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has conducted a study on old legacy vehicles for more than one lakh kilometres on E-20 fuel and found no engine failures or impact on vehicle performance, with only a minor impact on mileage between two to six per cent, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) said on Thursday.
Responding to a series of questions from Coochbehar MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari informed the Lok Sabha that vehicles sold prior to April 1, 2023 were compliant with E10, and vehicles sold after April 1, 2023 are E20 material compliant.
“Safety standards for E20 are well established through BIS specifications and Automotive Industry Standards (AIS). In most parameters, including
driveability, startability, metal compatibility and plastic compatibility, there are no issues,” he said, when the MP asked about the number of vehicles currently registered in the country that are not compliant with E20 fuel standards.
The MP also asked if the Ministry is planning or has announced any phase-out or retrofit programme for non-compliant vehicles. Gadkari said that, based on the recommendations of the study conducted by ARAI, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), there would be no requirement for a phase-out or retrofit of non-compliant vehicles, and that normal wear and tear can be managed during routine servicing.
The Ministry, in a statement, added that with blending, there is no impact on vehicle life, regular servicing should continue to be carried out by companies, and the insurance and warranty of vehicles remain unaffected.
“A study was conducted by ARAI for more than 1 lakh kilometres on E-20 fuel for old legacy vehicles. No vehicle engine failures were observed. No impact on vehicle performance—startability, driveability and metal compatibility. Only minor impact on average (2–6 per cent),” the Ministry said.
Explaining the drop in vehicle mileage, the Ministry said it is influenced by various factors—driving habits, maintenance, tyre pressure and alignment, apart from air-conditioning load.
The Ministry also highlighted that two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) questioning the E20 decision were dismissed by the Supreme Court in September 2025 and October 2025.
The Ministry further outlined wider economic benefits. The money that was previously spent on crude oil imports has now been diverted to farmers, it said, adding that Rs 40,145 crore has been paid to farmers in 2024–25, boosting agricultural and rural income by six per cent.
The Ministry also stated that the decision for ethanol blending was taken in 2001 by then Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, while phase-wise blending has been carried out since 2010 with vehicles modified by the auto industry from time to time.
