India
Telangana Says No Complaints Filed Over E20 Petrol Damaging Vehicles
Telangana's Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar informed the Legislative Council that the Transport Department has not received any complaints from vehicle owners or automobile industry experts regarding damage caused by ethanol-blended petrol. He stated that since no such complaints had been reported, the department lacked detailed information on the matter and saw no need for regulatory or corrective action at this stage.
The Minister was responding to a query raised by MLC Prof. Kodandaram on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, regarding concerns that E20 petrol might be affecting vehicles.
Probable minor mileage decline
Prabhakar acknowledged that ethanol has lower energy content compared to petrol, which could lead to a slight decrease in vehicle pickup and mileage. He noted that petrol blended with 20% ethanol (E20) might cause a 3 to 5% reduction in these performance metrics, but emphasized that regular vehicle servicing would help minimize any significant issues.
He explained that the E20 initiative is part of the Central government's policy, being overseen by oil marketing companies, and has been rolled out nationwide since April 1, 2026.
Adjustments for older vehicles
According to the Minister, vehicles produced after April 1 are built to run efficiently on E20 fuel, whereas owners of older vehicles may need to make small modifications or replace specific components. Safety, certification, and type-approval standards for these vehicles fall under the Central Motor Vehicles Act and associated regulations.
Advantages of ethanol blending
Prof. Kodandaram's question prompted Prabhakar to outline three key benefits of ethanol blending: improved income for farmers through better crop prices, reduced pollution levels, and savings in foreign exchange. He noted that ethanol production—from raw materials such as sugarcane juice, molasses, paddy, and maize—could open new markets for agricultural products.
Ethanol plants in the state
Addressing concerns about pollution from ethanol production facilities, the Minister said that modern plants supported by the Central government incorporate pollution-control technology. Telangana currently hosts seven ethanol factories, with two or three located in Karimnagar district.
He added that the Agriculture and Excise departments are responsible for facilitating partnerships between oil companies and entrepreneurs to establish new ethanol units, while the Transport Department plays no role in this process. Prabhakar encouraged industrialists to invest in ethanol plants equipped with proper pollution-control systems.
Electric vehicle policy update
On the topic of electric mobility, the Minister highlighted that Telangana's EV policy currently offers a 100% tax exemption to electric vehicle buyers, and that the initiative has been successful so far. He also requested Legislative Council Chairman Sukhender Reddy to consider offering additional benefits to Council members who purchase electric vehicles.