E20 is a type of fuel wherein petrol is blended with 20% ethanol
The recent E20 policy of the Indian government has created a buzz across the nation for multiple reasons. The customers are not happy about the fact that there is no alternative at the fuel stations. The government is, essentially, forcing people to purchase E20 fuel. Apart from that, there are many concerns regarding the long-term damage to the vehicles. For now, let us glance at the specifics of this case here.
Supreme Court Receives Petition Against E20 Fuel Policy
As per the latest news reports, advocate Akshay Malhotra has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court. It challenges the government’s decision to roll out 20 per cent Ethanol Blended Petrol (E20) across India without giving consumers the option to purchase normal petrol. Note that the vehicles manufactured in India before April 2023 are not E20 compatible. This means that millions of cars can’t handle the E20 fuel. In fact, even some BS6-compliant automobiles made 2 years ago are not designed to run on E20.
Therefore, using E20 fuel can result in many issues with the cars’ engines. This includes problems of corrosion, rusting, rubber and plastic components can get damaged, the fuel efficiency is reduced, and most importantly, even though the petrol component is 20% less, the prices have remained the same. To make matters worse, some insurance companies are denying claims if a car is getting damaged due to using E20 fuel for which the car company doesn’t recommend. Hence, the entire brunt of the disadvantages needs to be borne by the car owners.
The plea will be presented in the court on September 1, 2025, before the bench headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, along with Justice K. Vinod Chandran and Justice N.V. Anjaria. The main target of this petition is to give consumers the option of having the E0 petrol at all fuel stations along with a mandatory labelling of ethanol content, so that the buyers know what they are getting. Also, it demands that a nationwide study should assess the long-term impact of E20 petrol on the life and performance of cars. Let us keep an eye out for more details in this case.
Also Read: Will Government’s Decision to Sell E20 Petrol Destroy Your Car’s Engine?
