Ethanol Percentage In Petrol:  Most of the fuel stations in the country were selling petrol blended with 10 per cent ethanol (E10) till recently. But now, most of the fuel stations are dispensing petrol blended with 20 per cent Ethanol (E20), following a major policy shift. The move by the government is facing backlash as car owners are anxious about the reduced mileage of their vehicles, along with potential engine damage. Many people are concerned about falling fuel economy, while some have concerns regarding the level of Ethanol present in the petrol they are using. Indian Oil Corporation recently addressed these concerns.

How Much Ethanol Is Present In Petrol?

As informed earlier, currently, normal petrol dispensed by any fuel station present in the country contains 20 per cent of an Ethanol blend. The Indian Oil Corporation recently answered one of the questions asked by a user on the social media platform X, and the answer shares the amount of Ethanol blend with different types of petrol. As per the answer from Indian Oil Corporation, XP100 petrol (Petrol With 100 Octane) is blended with 10 per cent Ethanol, while the XP95 petrol (Petrol With 95 per cent Octane) contains 10 to 12 per cent of Ethanol blend, based on the location/terminal. The regular fuel contains 10 per cent to 20 per cent of Ethanol, based on the state.

Why the Government Is Pushing For E20?

Before we begin with the issues of ethanol-blended petrol, let’s first take a look at why the government is pushing for ethanol blending. One of the obvious reasons is that ethanol blending with petrol will reduce the dependency on fossil fuels. Additionally, the government states that the E20 fuel will reduce India’s dependency on the import of oil, and it is anticipated to save Rs 35,000-40,000 crore in foreign exchange annually.

The Issues With Ethanol Blend Fuel

Ethanol as an element is hygroscopic, which means that it absorbs moisture from the atmosphere. When Ethanol is blended with petrol, it absorbs moisture from the atmosphere and settles at the bottom of the fuel tank of the vehicle. This can cause fuel tank corrosion and even harm the engine. However, global studies show that vehicles in India that match the Euro 2 standards (BS2 or Above) are ethanol-ready, and they can handle an ethanol blend of up to 20 per cent. Another such issue with the use of ethanol-blended petrol is the energy level. The ethanol has different properties, and it can cause a drop in fuel economy by up to 10 per cent.