E20 Fuel Row Intensifies, Vlogger Saurabh Joshi Claims 'Mileage Dropped To 5km/litre, Scared To Fill Petrol'

New Delhi: The debate over E20 petrol has resurfaced after a social media post featuring popular vlogger Saurabh Joshi and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal went viral. The post claims that several vehicle owners are facing a sharp drop in fuel efficiency after switching to E20 petrol.

In the video shared on social media, Saurabh Joshi is heard saying that the mileage of his vehicle has fallen from around 17 kmpl to 9 kmpl and later to nearly 5 kmpl. Another vehicle owner is also seen telling Kejriwal that the car's mileage has "finished." Speaking to his wife sitting next to him in his Mercedes car, Joshi said he was afraid to petrol due to drastic reduction of mileage and if the car develops some problem, it may have to be sent to Delhi for servicing from his hometown in Uttarakhand.

Joshi emphasised on the purchase and usage of electric cars in such circumstances.

Kejriwal Raises Questions

Sharing the video, Kejriwal claimed that he recently spoke to car mechanics and vehicle owners in Delhi who allegedly reported long queues of vehicles with problems linked to E20 fuel. He also alleged that many owners were unhappy because their vehicles were delivering much lower mileage than before.

In his post, Kejriwal criticised the Centre's ethanol-blended fuel policy and urged the government to stop "forcing E20" on consumers. He further alleged that television interviews and press conferences could not change the reality being experienced by vehicle owners.

Claims Yet To Be Verified

The claims made in the social media post have not been independently verified. Neither the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas nor oil marketing companies had issued any immediate response to the specific allegations at the time of writing.

The Government of India has been promoting E20 petrol—containing up to 20 per cent ethanol—as part of its strategy to reduce crude oil imports, lower carbon emissions and support domestic ethanol production. Automobile manufacturers have also introduced E20-compatible vehicles in line with the government's roadmap.

Experts have previously said that E20-compatible vehicles are designed to run on the higher ethanol blend, while owners of older vehicles are advised to follow manufacturer recommendations regarding fuel compatibility. However, the latest viral claims have once again brought the impact of E20 fuel on vehicle performance into public discussion.

Mercedes-Benz reiterates E20 compatibility for all BS VI petrol models

Mercedes-Benz has clarified that all its BS VI petrol vehicles are fully compatible with E20 fuel and have been certified by the relevant authorities. The company said customer safety, reliability and performance remain its top priorities and added that technical support is available for any customer queries.