India considers reintroducing E10 petrol for older vehicles

The Indian government is considering reintroducing E10 petrol—a blend containing 10% ethanol—to accommodate older cars and two-wheelers that were not designed for the current E20 petrol standard. While E20 petrol is becoming the common fuel, many vehicle manuals, including those from manufacturers like Hyundai, warn against using ethanol concentrations higher than 10%.

Government analysis of service data from approximately 15 million older cars, including data from Maruti Suzuki, suggests that E20 fuel has not caused significant engine damage. However, the possibility of offering E10 as an option remains under serious consideration to address consumer concerns.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav has criticized the discrepancy between government claims and expert advice. He questioned whether the public should trust the government, which maintains that E20 is safe, or the Chief Economic Advisor, V. Ananth Nageswaran, who has suggested that E20 may damage older vehicles and that E10 should be brought back. Yadav described E20 as a ‘double-edged sword’ that increases both fuel costs and maintenance worries for citizens.