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India's E20 Ethanol: Mileage Drops, Rusted Tanks, Who Pays?
India rolled out E20 ethanol petrol five years early. Consumers report mileage drops and rusted tanks. Experts debate who pays for damage and whether safeguards lagged.
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India rolled out E20 ethanol petrol five years ahead of schedule. Consumer complaints followed fast: mileage drops, rusted fuel tanks, replaced parts. The question is how much of that damage comes from the fuel itself and how much from old fuel systems never designed for it.
Government and industry voices point to savings on imports, higher farmer income, and lower emissions. Consumers point to unchanged pump prices and vague warranty coverage. Neither side fully answers the other. What is missing is clarity on who tested what, who pays when parts fail, and whether the timeline moved faster than the safeguards meant to accompany it.