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.”

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Pune-headquartered electric vehicle manufacturer EKA Mobility has signed an MoU with Kerchanshe Trading, a diversified business group in Ethiopia, to establish distribution, assembly and aftersales operations for EKA vehicles across East Africa.

The agreement was signed in Dubai by Dr. Sudhir Mehta, Founder and Chairman of EKA Mobility and Dr. Israel Dejene, CEO and Chairman of Kerchanshe Trading.

EKA Mobility brings expertise in electric buses, small commercial vehicles and three-wheelers. Kerchanshe Trading PLC, which works across agriculture, construction and automotive sectors, has experience in industrial operations and vehicle assembly.

The collaboration includes plans to establish a local CKD assembly plant for EKA vehicles in Ethiopia, launch distribution and service operations across Ethiopia and surrounding markets and introduce a range of electric mobility products tailored for the region.

Dr. Sudhir Mehta, Founder & Chairman, EKA Mobility, said, “Our partnership with Kerchanshe Group is a proud milestone in EKA’s journey to democratise sustainable mobility across global markets. Ethiopia, with its growing industrial base and focus on clean energy, is the ideal hub for our East African operations. Together, we aim to create not just vehicles, but a cleaner, more inclusive future for mobility in East Africa.”

Israel Degefa, CEO and President, Kerchanshe Group, added, “With this collaboration, we are laying the groundwork for a new era of electric mobility in East Africa. By combining EKA’s innovative electric vehicle technology with our local expertise in assembly and distribution, we are creating a robust ecosystem that supports green mobility, industrial growth, and job creation.”

The partnership aims to position Ethiopia as a central hub for vehicle manufacturing and clean transport in the region.

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Ather Energy, a leading electric two-wheeler manufacturer in India, has announced the Ather Service Carnival, a nationwide service initiative for its customers. The initiative is scheduled from 9^th October to 18^th October.

The carnival includes benefits across all Ather service centres to encourage customers to prepare their scooters for the festive season.

Customers receive a free 15-point vehicle health check-up, which reviews brakes, tyres, suspension and electronics. The company is also offering discounts: 10 percent off on paid labour and brake pads, 15 percent off on painted body parts and 20 percent off on polish services. Ather has over 400 service centres across the country as of 30 September 2025.

The automaker has introduced initiatives to make scooter ownership simple, including Ather Care service plans and Ather ExpressCare. The company also launched Gold Service Centres, which are facilities that provide quicker service at no extra cost to owners.

Ather Energy is also expanding its retail network. Last month, the company exceeded 500 Experience Centres (ECs) nationwide and plans to reach 700 ECs by the end of FY2026.

The company recently produced its 500,000th vehicle from its manufacturing plant. Ather operates two plants in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, for vehicle assembly and battery production, and is setting up a third facility, Factory 3.0, in Bidkin, Maharashtra.

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Indofast Energy, a provider of battery-swapping solutions, has partnered e-Sprinto, an electric two-wheeler brand, to deploy 20,000 electric two-wheelers across India by 2026.

The collaboration will integrate e-Sprinto’s vehicles with Indofast Energy’s battery-swapping network. This synergy offers delivery partners a two-minute battery swap solution, removing charging downtime. The deployment will focus on quick commerce, e-commerce and food delivery sectors by establishing infrastructure along high-demand corridors.

Anant Badjatya, CEO, Indofast Energy, said, "We are thrilled to partner with e-Sprinto, an OEM that shares our vision for a sustainable and accessible electric future. Having established ourselves as the default choice for fleet operators in battery swapping, this collaboration demonstrates our readiness to transition from B2B to B2C segments, showcasing the strength and scalability of our infrastructure. By integrating e-Sprinto's high-quality vehicles with our network, we are expanding our reach across diverse customer segments and accelerating our ambitious EV deployment targets, further solidifying our leadership in India's electric mobility revolution.”

Atul Gupta, Co-Founder and Director, e-Sprinto, said, "Our collaboration with Indofast Energy is nothing short of a game-changer for e-Sprinto and the broader EV market. Indofast Energy's extensive battery-swapping network perfectly complements our vehicles, offering customers the unparalleled convenience and efficiency. By deploying 20,000 vehicles with Indofast Energy in 2026, we are confident this partnership will make electric mobility the preferred choice for both commercial and personal transportation across India, delivering reliable, sustainable, and economically viable solutions for all."

The alliance is a step in Indofast Energy’s plan to deploy 2,750 swap stations and support 1.5 lakh vehicles by March 2026. The company’s mission is to establish 10,000 swapping points across over 40 Indian cities in the next three years. Indofast Energy has over 1,000 battery-swapping stations in 10 states and 22 cities.

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Montra Electric, the clean transport brand from the Murugappa Group, has launched the updated Super Auto electric passenger three-wheeler.

The vehicle features LED headlamps to increase visibility, and radial tubeless tyres to provide better grip, stability and lower maintenance costs. A re-engineered suspension system also aims to ensure a smoother drive.

The Super Auto now comes with Montra Electric’s in-house developed ‘One Montra Electric’ (1M) connected software platform. This provides drivers with access to vehicle performance data, charging station locations and digital features.

The vehicle offers a range of 160 km per charge and is supported by the company’s 3S (Sales, Service, Spares) network across over 120 markets. Till date, the company has sold over 13,000 units of the Super Auto in India.

Deependra Sharma, CEO (Designate), Montra Electric Last Mile (TI Clean Mobility), said, “Every new product at Montra Electric is created with a clear goal, to make electric mobility more efficient, reliable, and valuable for drivers. The all-new Super Auto reflects our engineering focus on comfort, safety, and durability, while keeping affordability intact, making clean mobility both practical and profitable for drivers and fleet operators.”

The Super Auto is available in White, Blue, and Green, and a Black Edition with decals.

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