Government Hides Engine Test Reports on E20 & E85 Fuels — RTI Reveals Petroleum Ministry Called Data "Confidential"
India's push towards cleaner fuel alternatives is picking up speed. E20 — petrol blended with 20% ethanol — is already at pumps across the country. E85 is next in line. The government calls it a greener bridge to the future. But a growing number of vehicle owners are asking a simple question: what does this fuel actually do to your engine over time?
One concerned citizen decided to find out the right way by filing an RTI (Right to Information) request. The target? The Petroleum Ministry and ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India), the very bodies responsible for approving these fuel standards.
RTI Filed, Doors Slammed Shut:
The response was blunt. Both the Petroleum Ministry and ARAI refused to share their testing data, labelling the reports "confidential." No long-term engine impact data. No mileage loss calculations. No transparency about which components might wear faster on high-ethanol blends.
For millions of Indians who bought vehicles without being told their engines may not be optimised for E20 or E85, this silence is not just frustrating, it raises serious questions about accountability.