Indian automakers privately concerned over E20 fuel contamination

Internal communications among major Indian automakers reveal private concerns regarding the contamination of E20, a petrol blend containing 20% ethanol. While the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) recently withdrew a formal complaint to the government citing a need for further data authentication, leaked emails show that executives at Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, and Mahindra had been discussing issues with the fuel prior to the public retreat.

Industry testing, which included over 250 fuel samples collected across 21 states, identified high levels of moisture and chloride contamination in many samples. These contaminants are reportedly affecting vehicle performance. The E20 rollout is a nationwide initiative by the Indian government intended to reduce pollution and decrease oil imports, but since April 1, E20 has been the primary petrol option available to consumers.