1 week ago
Goa Motorists Raise Mileage and Cost Concerns Over E20 Fuel
E20 petrol contains a larger share of ethanol blended with petrol.
At a Goa town hall, some motorists said their vehicles now travel fewer kilometres on the same amount of fuel.
They also said fuel bills have become more expensive.
A motorcycle expert reported possible problems with injectors, rubber seals and other parts.
A delivery worker said his mileage dropped from 60 to 45–50 kilometres per litre.
This matters because he spends many hours riding for work.
Arvind Kejriwal said older vehicles may not work safely with E20, but those claims were not independently confirmed in the report.
He also said using sugarcane for ethanol could affect sugar prices.
The government’s or fuel companies’ response was not included.
Motorists and professionals at an Aam Aadmi Party town hall in Goa reported lower mileage, higher fuel expenses and possible vehicle-component problems after E20 petrol was introduced.
Motorcycle workshop owner Arif Ahmed said customers had reported injector, rubber O-ring and throttle-body issues, including white-powder accumulation.
Delivery worker Munir Chauhan said his motorcycle mileage fell from 60 km per litre to 45–50 km per litre, increasing his fuel costs and reducing savings.
Civil engineer Cedric Lobo said a relative’s monthly fuel spending rose to ₹6,000 from ₹4,500–5,000 after an alleged mileage decline.
Arvind Kejriwal questioned whether vehicles made before 2023 are compatible with E20 and also linked ethanol production to higher sugar prices, though broader claims require independent verification.
- Who
- Motorists, vehicle professionals, delivery worker Munir Chauhan, civil engineer Cedric Lobo and Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal.
- What
- A Goa town hall discussed alleged mileage losses, higher fuel costs and possible vehicle damage following the rollout of E20 petrol.
- Where
- Goa, with experiences also reported by a delivery worker from Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh.
- When
- The town hall took place on Tuesday; an IANS post embedded in the report was dated August 25, 2026.
- Why
- Participants sought to highlight the financial and mechanical concerns they associate with the transition to E20 petrol.
Key facts
- Fuel discussed
- E20 petrol, an ethanol-blended fuel
- Reported mileage decline
- Munir Chauhan said his motorcycle fell from 60 km per litre to 45–50 km per litre
- Reported fuel-cost increase
- A commuter’s monthly fuel spending was said to rise to ₹6,000 from ₹4,500–5,000
- Vehicle concerns
- Arif Ahmed cited alleged injector, rubber O-ring and throttle-body problems
- Older vehicles
- Kejriwal said he had sought compatibility information for vehicles manufactured before 2023
- Goa vehicle ownership figures
- Kejriwal cited two-wheeler ownership among about 87% of families and four-wheeler ownership among more than 47%
- Other economic claim
- Kejriwal claimed sugar prices rose by ₹30 per kg in one month, linking the increase to ethanol production
Quotes
Munir Chauhan
Food delivery agent from Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh
“The average [mileage] of my motorcycle has come down from 60 km per litre to 45-50 km per litre in the last few months. I have to work 13-14 hours a day, since a part of my savings now goes towards fuel expenses due to the reduced mileage caused by E20. The motorcycle also moves haltingly now”
freepressjournal.in
“We are seeing a lot of issues in this component [throttle body] since the transition to E20 petrol. It seems to impact the injectors and rubber O-rings inside... and leads to accumulation of a white powder”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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