India
-Oneindia Staff
Arvind Kejriwal has escalated the debate over E20 petrol by asking India’s automobile manufacturers to give a written assurance on whether older petrol vehicles can safely use fuel blended with 20 percent ethanol. The Aam Aadmi Party national convener has sought replies within a week, saying consumers need clarity from companies rather than broad assurances at government briefings.
Arvind Kejriwal has asked 29 auto manufacturers, including Maruti and Hero, for written assurance within a week regarding E20 petrol safety in older vehicles, questioning potential component damage and mileage loss.
Kejriwal said he has written to 29 two-wheeler and four-wheeler manufacturers. Separate letters have been sent to Maruti, Toyota Kirloskar and Hero, which he said had publicly stated during a government press conference on July 4 that E20 use in older vehicles was safe and would only reduce mileage by about 4-5 percent.
Kejriwal asks auto firms to clarify E20 safety in older vehicles
At a press conference at the AAP headquarters on July 8, Kejriwal said the issue was not limited to fuel policy but directly affected vehicle owners. He argued that many owner manuals for vehicles manufactured before 2023 do not permit petrol with more than 10 percent ethanol. According to him, this creates a contradiction between written consumer documents and later public statements.
“The owner manual is an agreement between the consumer and the company,” Kejriwal said, adding that companies must explain their actual position in writing. He said consumers should not be left to bear the cost if fuel compatibility claims later prove inaccurate in real-world conditions.
In his letters to Maruti, Toyota Kirloskar and Hero, Kejriwal has asked whether E20 petrol can be used in older vehicles without component damage. He has also asked whether the mileage loss is limited to 4-5 percent, as claimed, and whether the companies will compensate consumers if fuel efficiency falls by more than 5-10 percent.
He has also asked whether the companies will pay for repairs if any vehicle component is damaged due to E20 use. The questions are aimed at establishing accountability, especially for vehicles sold before E20 compatibility became a wider industry standard.
Why E20 petrol has become a consumer concern
E20 is petrol blended with 20 percent ethanol. India has promoted ethanol blending to reduce crude oil imports, support sugarcane and grain-based ethanol production, and cut some tailpipe emissions. The policy has been presented as a major energy security measure, but its rapid spread has raised practical questions for owners of older vehicles.
The central concern is compatibility. Ethanol has different chemical properties from petrol. It can affect rubber, plastic and metal components if those parts were not designed for higher ethanol blends. It can also influence fuel economy because ethanol contains less energy per litre than petrol. This is why many consumers are asking whether older vehicles will perform as expected on E20.
Automakers have gradually introduced E20-compliant vehicles in line with national policy. However, India has a large fleet of older cars and two-wheelers still in daily use. For those owners, the key question is not whether new vehicles can run on E20, but whether vehicles bought years earlier can do so without higher running costs or repairs.
Kejriwal said the remaining 26 companies have been sent a general letter asking them to state whether their pre-2023 petrol vehicles can safely use E20. He has also asked them to disclose the likely mileage loss and whether they will compensate consumers for reduced mileage or damaged components.
AAP seeks written accountability from manufacturers
The AAP leader said he expects all companies to respond within a week because the matter affects millions of consumers. He said the issue cannot be settled only through government statements, especially when owner manuals appear to carry different guidance for older models.
Kejriwal also said he would visit petrol pumps, service centres and mechanics on July 9 to collect feedback from consumers and repair professionals. He said the government was insisting that E20 was safe, but the experience of vehicle users should also be heard before dismissing public concerns.
The controversy has gained traction because fuel choice is not always available to consumers once E20 becomes widely supplied. If a petrol pump offers only E20, owners of older vehicles may not have the option to choose a lower ethanol blend. That makes clarity from manufacturers important for warranty, maintenance and resale value.
Kejriwal criticised attempts to describe critics of E20 as anti-national or influenced by lobbying. He said people across political lines were raising questions about mileage and vehicle health. “A responsible government should listen to the voice of the people,” he said, arguing that the decision should be assessed through science, engineering and consumer interest.
The letters are likely to put pressure on automakers to offer model-wise guidance rather than general statements. For consumers, the most useful response would be clear information on which vehicles are E20-compatible, what mileage impact is expected, and whether any parts need inspection or replacement.
The debate now rests on whether manufacturers provide written answers that match their manuals, public claims and service advice. Until then, vehicle owners using older petrol models will continue to face uncertainty over fuel efficiency, component safety and who carries the cost if problems arise.
