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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Ather Energy has announced the addition of Tamil language support to the dashboard of its Rizta Z electric scooter. The update allows owners to switch the interface to Tamil, with the rollout scheduled as an over-the-air (OTA) update starting in February 2026.

The initiative is part of Ather’s plan to offer a multi-language interface supporting eight regional languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.

The Tamil release follows the previous introduction of Hindi and Kannada. The company indicates that this move supports the preference for technology interaction in regional languages.

The Rizta series consists of two models, the Rizta S and Rizta Z, which provide ranges of 123 km and 159 km. The vehicle features a 56-litre storage capacity, comprising a 34-litre under-seat compartment and an optional 22-litre front accessory. Safety systems integrated into the scooter include SkidControl, Fall Safe, Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) and Live Location Sharing.

Ravneet Singh Phokela, CBO, Ather Energy, said, “Tamil Nadu has been an important market for Ather from the beginning, both in terms of our manufacturing presence and our growing rider base. As Rizta continues to see strong adoption and has recently crossed the 2 lakh sales milestone, it becomes important for the product to feel familiar and easy to use for riders across regions. Building local language support into the Rizta experience has been a deliberate part of how we think about creating a seamless ownership experience. After the Kannada dashboard rollout, bringing Tamil to the Rizta Z dashboard on the occasion of Pongal felt like a natural next step.”

The company recently reached a sales milestone of 200,000 units for the Rizta. Additionally, a touchscreen upgrade for the Rizta Z was confirmed during Ather Community Day 2025 to further enhance the user interface.

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Montra Electric, the clean mobility division of the Murugappa Group, has opened two new dealerships in the National Capital Region (NCR). The expansion includes an electric small commercial vehicle (e-SCV) outlet in Libaspur, North Delhi and an electric three-wheeler (e-3W) facility in Surajpur, Greater Noida.

The Greater Noida dealership, operated by Vigsons Automobiles, will retail the Super Auto and Super Cargo models. This facility is equipped with service infrastructure and technicians to support owner-operators and fleet customers in the passenger and cargo segments. The North Delhi site, operated by Action Volt Wheels, is intended for businesses involved in e-commerce distribution and FMCG logistics, providing workshop and after-sales support for mid-mile operations.

Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric, said, “The transition to electric commercial mobility is an institutional shift, not merely a product change. As adoption expands across India, its success will depend on the strength and reliability of the supporting ecosystem. Building this foundation, anchored in quality, service, and long-term ownership confidence, is essential for clean mobility to scale in a sustainable manner.”

Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director, Montra Electric, added, “Delhi-NCR is one of the most structurally important markets for electric commercial vehicles, where scale is being driven by real operating use-cases rather than experimentation. Our focus is to build a network that is capable of supporting this scale, through dependable retail partners, strong service infrastructure, and consistent customer engagement. The new dealerships in Greater Noida and North Delhi are a step towards ensuring that customers experience electric mobility as a reliable business solution, not just a sustainable alternative.”

The company stated that the NCR is a primary market due to the demand for urban logistics and shared mobility. The new facilities are designed to transition electric vehicles from pilot projects to regular commercial use by focusing on vehicle uptime and service responsiveness.

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) participated in the Advantage Maharashtra Expo 2026 to showcase its technology and manufacturing initiatives. The company focused on Flex-fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle (FFV SHEV) technology and its ongoing expansion within the state of Maharashtra.

At the Technology Pavilion, the automaker displayed the HyCross FFV SHEV, a vehicle designed to operate on ethanol-blended fuels while utilising a hybrid electric powertrain. This technology is part of Toyota's ‘multi-pathway’ strategy intended to reach carbon neutrality by utilising various energy sources. The expo, organised by the Marathwada Association of Small-Scale Industries and Agriculture (MASSIA) and the Government of Maharashtra, serves as a platform for industry and technology exchange in the Marathwada region.

Sudeep Dalvi, Chief Communication Officer, Senior Vice President and Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “Toyota Kirloskar Motor extends its sincere gratitude to the Government of Maharashtra for its continued support toward our greenfield manufacturing project in the state. Our upcoming facility will further enhance TKM’s operational footprint in the state with localization as a key focus while creating expanded opportunities for local development. Participation in the Advantage Maharashtra Expo underscores our ongoing collaborative initiatives across the region, reflecting our commitment to fostering sustainable growth, innovation, and community empowerment in Maharashtra. TKM has consistently focused on building core capabilities and strengthening the educational ecosystem in Maharashtra through its structured skilling & CSR programs. Complementing these efforts, we continue to advance technology initiatives that support cleaner mobility and more efficient powertrain systems.”

Beyond vehicle displays, Toyota Kirloskar Motor held sessions on manufacturing culture and skill development for industry representatives and educational institutions. The company recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government to develop a skilling ecosystem focused on Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).

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Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL), one of the leading two-wheeler manufacturers in the country, has announced the commencement of bookings for the e-Access, its first electric scooter. This launch marks Suzuki’s global entry into the electric two-wheeler segment, with India serving as the debut market for the model.

Priced at INR 188,490 (ex-showroom, Delhi), the e-Access can be reserved at authorised dealerships across India. The company has also confirmed that the scooter will be available for purchase through the e-commerce platform Flipkart once retail sales begin.

The e-Access is equipped with a lithium-ion battery designed for durability, which the company states will retain over 80 percent of its capacity after eight years of use. Technical features include a swingarm-mounted motor and a regenerative braking system that assists in energy recovery during deceleration. The scooter also includes a Type 2 charging port for compatibility with public charging infrastructure and a 5-inch TFT instrument cluster with smartphone connectivity.

Kenichi Umeda, Managing Director, Suzuki Motorcycle India, said, “The Suzuki e-Access represents Suzuki’s first global strategic battery electric vehicle. It offers long-life battery, agile handling, seamless acceleration and high quality fit & finish. With every element designed thoughtfully to make ownership easy, enjoyable, and worry-free, we remain committed to Suzuki’s global vision of sustainable mobility. We believe the Suzuki e-Access will be the choice for riders looking for a reliable, everyday electric scooter that fits into their lifestyle.”

The vehicle is available in four dual-tone colour options, including the new Metallic Mat Stellar Blue/Metallic Mat Fibroin Gray. To support the rollout, SMIPL has introduced financial products including interest rates starting at 5.99 percent and rental options ranging from 24 hours to 3 years.

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