KATHMANDU: India’s Supreme Court has dismissed a petition against the government’s rollout of 20% ethanol-blended fuel, known as E20.
The government introduced E20 as part of its clean energy plan set in 2021. By now, it has become the only fuel available at nearly 90,000 stations across the country. The petition had argued that motorists with older vehicles should be given the option to buy unblended petrol.
During the hearing, the Attorney General said the move was carefully planned and would also help farmers, since sugarcane is the main source of ethanol. The court accepted the government’s stance that it was not a “mindless switch.”
Some automakers had earlier raised concerns about compatibility of E20 with older vehicles. However, industry groups now say the fuel is safe. The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) stated that while mileage may be slightly lower, there is no safety risk.
Manufacturers have also started reassuring customers. Many said their cars can handle E20 without affecting warranties. All new vehicles sold in India are E20-compliant, but models made before 2024 are not fully compatible with the newly introduced E20 fuel.
Honda was the first to declare in February that its cars have been E20-ready since 2009.
