Indian vlogger Sourav Joshi said ethanol-blended E20 petrol significantly reduced the fuel efficiency of his Mercedes vehicle in Haldwani, Uttarakhand.

This report highlights growing consumer concerns regarding the compatibility of high-ethanol fuel blends with luxury vehicle engines and their impact on mileage.

Joshi, who operates out of Uttarakhand, said his vehicle's efficiency plummeted to an unprecedented low within a span of just 48 hours [1]. He said that the fuel average had dropped from an initial 17 kmpl [1] down to nine kmpl [1], and eventually to five kmpl [2].

The vlogger used his platform to criticize the E20 blend, which contains 20 percent ethanol. He said that the "average down from 17 to 9, now 5" [1].

E20 petrol is part of a broader effort to reduce fossil fuel reliance and lower carbon emissions. However, some vehicle owners report that older or non-compliant engines experience performance degradation when using these blends. The sudden drop in efficiency reported by Joshi suggests a sharp decline in performance over a very short window of time.

Joshi's experience has sparked discussions among car owners regarding the real-world effects of ethanol blending on high-end automotive engines. While the government promotes E20 for environmental reasons, the practical impact on fuel economy remains a point of contention for some users.

“average down from 17 to 9, now 5”

The reported decline in fuel efficiency underscores a potential gap between national renewable energy goals and the technical readiness of existing vehicle fleets. If high-ethanol blends like E20 cause significant mileage drops in luxury or non-optimized engines, it may lead to increased consumer resistance to the transition toward greener fuels in India.