New Delhi: The government has announced a new standard for higher ethanol-petrol blends, introducing E22, E25, E27, and E30 fuels, which allows for ethanol blending beyond the current 20% threshold. This initiative is part of the government’s strategy to increase ethanol blending in response to surplus ethanol availability and to mitigate crude oil imports influenced by ongoing conflicts in West Asia that have disrupted the energy supply chain.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) published this new standard on May 15, detailing specifications for fuel blends created by mixing anhydrous ethanol with motor gasoline for use in petrol-powered vehicles. The technical parameters outlined include composition, blending requirements, permissible impurity levels, testing methods, and safety norms.
In response to concerns regarding the impact of E25 (25% ethanol) blends on existing vehicles, particularly regarding mileage and engine longevity, the Ministry of Petroleum has commissioned the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to conduct a comprehensive study. This study will focus on vehicles compliant with E10 and E20 standards, as most current vehicles are fully compliant with E10, while vehicles meeting the E20 standard are expected to enter the market only post-April 2025.
Sources have indicated that discussions within an inter-ministerial group revealed that adding an extra 1% of ethanol to the current 20% blending level should not pose significant issues. However, increasing the blend to 25% is considered a considerable leap. An official noted, “ARAI will now conduct the study using vehicles that are E10 and E20 compliant.”
The All India Distillers’ Association (AIDA) has termed this government action a “significant and timely step” towards progressing India’s ethanol blending initiative and reducing reliance on crude oil imports. Stakeholders emphasize the necessity to evaluate the engine life, performance, emissions, and costs of vehicles not engineered for higher ethanol blends. Best practices dictate that test vehicles should undergo assessments over a distance of 60,000 to 70,000 kilometers to ensure reliable analysis.
