While the need of the hour for the Government of India was to reduce crude oil import, a whopping 85 percent from other countries, and reduce pollution, does the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) program, having generated tremendous furore, truly augur well for India’s automotive future?

Industry leaders from India’s leading oil companies, automotive industry bodies and OEMs came together on 30 August 2025, to discuss its directives, including the employment of sugarcane farmers.

Setting the tone for the evening, Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) spoke about BS6 and BS6 Phase Two as unique current propositions that prepared the ground for ethanol addition into petrol. He mentioned, “While ARAI is responsible for maximum testing, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and oil companies have also played important parts.”  

2001 was the year when ethanol blends were first done in India. The systematic sequence of ethanol-based blend tests after the above was as follows:

• 2010- Multiple studies done over 10 percent blending
• 2016- BS4 testing was done on 7–8-year-old vehicles
• 2021- A detailed study was done on 8–10-year-old vehicles

Fuel efficiency will go down

Industry speakers confirmed that fuel efficiency from E20 will decrease by 2-5 percent. However, Prashant K Bannerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, averred, “Fuel efficiency is determined by terrain and driving habits, leading to different experiences for different customers. Owing to complex and variable factors, it cannot always be pointed towards the fuel.” Though better octane numbers have now been attained, the energy generated is six percent lesser than pure petrol.

As a country that has successfully adopted EBP, Brazil, with E27 and an overall blend of 45 percent, was quoted numerous times. Milind Pagare, VP (R&D), Bajaj Auto, shared his views on the company’s two-wheelers sold in India and abroad. He said, “We will always provide fuel-related help to our customers whenever necessary. However, I’m sure that there will be no catastrophic engine failures due to EBP.”   

Experiments are necessary for progress

“Experiments will keep happening; otherwise, we can’t go ahead. We will always rely on scientific studies for progress,” said Mathai. Although he could not give a figure when asked about the E20-compliant percentage on Indian roads, he stated that the industry has tested two-wheelers which are 10 years old and four-wheelers between 8-10 years of age for the blend in 2016 and 2021, respectively. Mathai said, “We couldn’t say anything for sure when E20 came in 2021.”

Bannerjee assured that, “OEMs will have no warranty-related changes due to EBP. Whatever is committed to the customer at the time of sale will be honoured fully. Neither warranty nor insurance will be impacted by the above.”

Most attendees were of the opinion that OEMs and oil companies were not providing any clarity about E20-related faults. Ascertaining the need for the above, Bannerjee said, “We need to clearly articulate about the fuel to our customers. This can be done through a series of summary statements that could be press releases or FAQs.” He said that the statements will be released on the SIAM, ARAI, or OEM pages at the earliest.

He further added, “Most OEMS have or are in the process of communicating to dealers that E20 can be used in E10 vehicles without any concern.” In other words, E20 will cause no problems on any vehicles, including the ones that are marked E5-E10. Specific models of the two-wheelers and four-wheelers have been tested BS3 onwards and he mentioned that no vehicle has encountered engine failure due to E20 to date, after testing over 100,000 kilometres. The setting up of an arbitrary testing agency across vintages and makes of vehicles was also mentioned.   

India becomes self-sufficient in ethanol distillation

Anurag Saraogi, Chief General Manager, Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) expressed contentment at attaining a high level of energy security in India. Backing up the above with figures, he averred, “Eight billion litres of distilleries have come up over the years, and the best part is that these are entirely indigenous.”

Ethanol is prepared from sugarcane, maize and other grains, after which it is mixed with petrol. As UP, Maharashtra and Karnataka are the three major Indian sugarcane states, the oil industry formed long-term agreements with entrepreneurs for country-wide provision. The quantity from sugar molasses has gone up to 3.5-3.7 billion litres today.

Maize is the leading provider of ethanol, contributing 40 percent. Today, maize farming is more viable than ever before, with farmers being recognised as ‘Urjadaatas’ (energy-givers). They’re being offered INR 72 per litre to grow more maize for ethanol and have been paid INR 400 billion in 2025. Payments are being made to the farmers alone.

PS Ravi, Director, Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI), said, “In 2014, we achieved a 1.5 percent blend, resulting in 380 million litres of ethanol. While E10 was made available across India in 2019, we have been able to get to 7.5 billion litres by 2025. At this rate, we can safely target procurement and blending of 11-12 billion litres by 2026.” Adding to this, he said, “India is already setting up pilot plants for using high agri residues to prepare the second generation of ethanol.”

Talking about pricing, Ravi said, “The procurement price of ethanol is much more than cost of petrol. Yet, the oil industry is still maintaining a constant price despite Minimum Selling Prices (MSPs) and higher ethanol being derived from feedstock. 

Apart from the above, the industry experts expects India to save INR 1,440 billion in terms of FOREX. As a low-carbon intensity fuel, it will easily achieve net-zero emissions, resulting in a cost-effective pathway for energy transition.

Vikram Gulati, Executive Vice-President, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), said, “Through its 2070 emission plan and circular economy, India will become the global reference model. Farmers will spend more, contributing to the economy.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Euler Motors has introduced the Euler Turbo EV 1000, a new one-tonne, four-wheel electric commercial vehicle positioned as a high-performance and affordable solution for businesses. Priced from an ex-showroom starting point of INR 599,000, the model is presented as a direct and cost-effective alternative to traditional diesel vehicles, with the company claiming it can provide annual savings of approximately INR 115,000 for operators.

The Turbo EV 1000 is engineered to address key concerns in the commercial vehicle segment. It claims a real-world range of 140 to 170 kilometres, which it combines with a segment-leading torque of 140 NM for navigating demanding urban routes. Safety and performance features include large 230 mm disc brakes on an R13 wheel platform. A significant innovation is its CCS2 fast-charging capability, which Euler states can deliver 50 kilometres of range in just 15 minutes at public charging stations, a first for the industry.

This vehicle specifically targets small fleet owners and driver-entrepreneurs for whom upfront cost and operational efficiency are critical. By offering a competitive purchase price alongside low running costs, the Turbo EV 1000 aims to break down adoption barriers and provide a lower total cost of ownership, thereby improving profitability for businesses operating on thin margins. The vehicle incorporates nine segment-first innovations and marks the company's third product launch and its second in the four-wheel commercial vehicle category.

To cater to diverse needs and budgets, the Euler Turbo EV 1000 is available in three distinct variants: the CITY at INR 599,999, the FAST CHARGE at INR 819,999 and the MAXX at INR 719,999. The company is also facilitating accessibility through financing options, with easy EMI plans starting from INR 10,000 per month after a down payment of INR 49,999.

Saurav Kumar, Founder and CEO, Euler Motors, said, “We are proud to be launching Euler Turbo EV 1000 today, as we believe it marks the meeting of deep engineering innovation with real world practical needs of India’s logistics industry – to deliver a segment-first combination of performance AND affordability. As India’s state and national transport policies, GST reforms and other developments reshape fleet economics in Indian cities, Euler Turbo EV 1000 arrives at a pivotal time to drive the transition to sustainable mobility in India. It is poised to be the inflexion point for EV penetration growth in the 4W CV segment overall, currently estimated at around two percent.

“There is an urgent need for action towards sustainability, or else we will risk questioning by future generations. However, it is not possible to expect scale adoption without responding to practical everyday challenges. Euler Turbo EV 1000 responds to this dual need of a long-term vision while keeping short term needs in mind. It is a global best in class across multiple parameters in the 1-tonne segment, which just happens to be an EV. Our aspiration was to build a vehicle that fundamentally changes how people think about commercial vehicles in this segment. With this, Euler Motors has firmly placed India on the global EV manufacturing map.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Zelio E-Mobility, a rapidly growing manufacturer of electric two- and three-wheelers, has secured approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for its SME Initial Public Offering (IPO). The company aims to raise INR 780 million through the public issue, which is expected to be listed on the BSE.

Founded in 2021, Zelio is a manufacturer of electric scooters and three-wheelers. The company claims to have an annual manufacturing capacity of 72,000 units and a distribution network of more than 280 dealers across over 20 states and union territories in India.

In FY2025, the company reported revenue of INR 1.72 billion, net profit of INR 160 million, up 128.76 percent YoY. The company claims a CAGR growth of 83.29 percent CAGR between FY2023 and FY2025.

The proceeds from the IPO, which will be managed by Hem Securities, are earmarked to support Zelio's next phase of growth. The company shared that specific details on investor participation and the use of the funds will be announced closer to the issue date.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Bengaluru-based electric vehicle maker Ather Energy has reached a significant milestone by opening over 500 Experience Centres (EC) across the country. In just the last three months, the company added 101 new centres, with a strong focus on expanding its presence in central and northern India.

The company's rapid expansion is largely driven by the growing demand for its electric scooters, particularly the new Rizta, Ather's first family-oriented scooter. While southern India remains Ather’s strongest market, the success of the Rizta has accelerated its growth in new regions.

Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, said, “Crossing 500 Experience Centres marks an important step in our growth journey, as we continue to expand our presence in line with rising demand across markets. While South India continues to be our strongest base, where we are steadily growing, the success of Rizta has also helped us fast-track expansion in Middle and North India. This growth is not confined to metros alone. We are also building deeper into tier 2 and 3 cities, where consumer response has been equally encouraging. As we continue to scale, our focus remains on making Ather accessible to more customers across India, with the aim of crossing 700 Experience Centres by the end of FY26.”

Going forward, Ather aims to have over 700 Experience centres by the end of fiscal year 2026 to make its vehicles more accessible to a wider audience. The company is not only expanding its retail footprint but also its service network, including dedicated Ather Gold service centres.

The EV maker’s market share has grown from 7.6 percent in Q1 FY2025, to 14.3 percent in Q1 FY2026.

To support its ambitious growth, Ather operates two manufacturing plants in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, and is building a third facility in Maharashtra that will increase its total annual production capacity to 1.42 million electric two-wheelers.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Chennai-based electric motorcycle start-up Raptee.HV has received strategic funding from the Technology Development Board (TDB), a government body under the Department of Science & Technology.

The company claims it is the first electric motorcycle manufacturer in India to receive this support, which will be used to develop its high-voltage technology further.

Raptee.HV specialises in adapting high-voltage technology from electric cars for use in two-wheelers. The company has spent over six years developing its own technology from the ground up, aiming to create electric motorcycles that offer car-level performance, reliability and charging convenience.

Dinesh Arjun, CEO and Co-Founder of Raptee.HV, said, “This support from the Technology Development Board is a strong endorsement of Raptee.HV’s mission to redefine performance electric mobility, from India, for the world. In the absence of an ecosystem for high-voltage motorcycle architecture, we built our own through uncompromising engineering. Earlier, we also received a grant from the Ministry of Heavy Industries through ARAI-AMTIF and now from TDB, both clear signals of the Government of India’s focus on supporting indigenous technological innovation. The trust placed in us by TDB and ARAI-AMTIF strengthens our resolve to push the boundaries of performance-driven motorcycle electrification in India.” 

By investing in Raptee.HV, the TDB is making its first-ever investment in the electric motorcycle sector. This places the startup in a select group of companies, including Tata Motors and Bharat Biotech, that have historically received TDB support for groundbreaking technological innovations.

With motorcycles making up a significant portion of India's two-wheeler market, Raptee.HV’s focus on performance-driven, high-voltage technology could play a key role in helping India achieve its 2030 target of 30 percent EV penetration in the two-wheeler segment.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!