E20 fuel increases mileage, helps farmers, and will not harm vehicles, says Gadkari
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said E20 petrol has caused no vehicle damage and cited a report indicating improved mileage, though he did not identify the report. He also promoted flex-fuel and hydrogen vehicles, highlighting ethanol’s potential to reduce fuel imports, pollution and support farmer incomes.
The mileage of motor vehicles has increased because of E20 ethanol-blended petrol, and the fuel has caused no harm to the vehicles, Union Minister for Road Transportation and Highways Nitin Gadkari said in Bhopal on Friday (September 25, 2026), citing a recent report.
Speaking during the launch of a new government bus service in Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Gadkari said, “Since 2022, ethanol-blended petrol has been used as fuel in India. Currently, this fuel is being used in four crore four-wheelers and 20 million two-wheelers across the country. I am confident that no vehicle has faced any problems. In fact, we have received a report that says that average [vehicle mileage] has also increased because of it [ethanol-blended petrol].”
Mr. Gadkari, however, did not specify the report he cited.
He also said that the transport department is contributing around 40% to the country’s air pollution. “I am responsible for that. But we want to get rid of this pollution,” he said, advocating for electric vehicles and flex-fuel engines.
‘New model of self-reliance’
The Union Minister also said that the automobile companies will now manufacture vehicles with flex-fuel engines capable of running on 100% ethanol. “The country will no longer need to import petrol and diesel worth ₹22 lakh crore. There will be no pollution in the transport sector,” he said, adding that the saved money will go to the farmers and increase their income.
“The country’s farmers produce ethanol. They have now evolved from being mere annadata [providers of food] to urjadata [providers of energy]. When we started producing ethanol from maize, it was selling for ₹1,200/quintal and the minimum support price was ₹1,800/quintal. Now, farmers in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are currently receiving a price of ₹2,600 for maize, and ₹45,000 crore went to the farmers. A model of economic self-reliance for the nation will be established through the adoption of alternative fuels,” he added.
Mr. Gadkari also said that the Centre would start operating hydrogen-run trucks and buses on 10 routes in the country.
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Source : The Hindu
