
E20 vs XP100: Amid the growing debate over the impact of E20 petrol on vehicles, many motorists are exploring alternatives, with some turning to Indian Oil's XP100 premium petrol, which is ethanol-free. E20, by comparison, is a blend of 20% ethanol and 80% petrol.
A video circulating on social media claims to show a significant difference in fuel efficiency between the two fuels after the same vehicle was refuelled in Delhi.
The post, captioned "E20 vs XP100 - The mileage difference is REAL," shows the vehicle returning 10.7 kmpl on E20 petrol, as indicated by the instrument cluster. It then shows a mileage of 17.1 kmpl after switching to Indian Oil's XP100.
"Yes, it costs ₹167 per litre in Delhi... but you're also going 60% further," the user claimed in the post on X.
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A viral video showed that E20 petrol delivered a mileage of 10.7 km/l, whereas XP100 achieved 17.1 km/l, indicating a significant difference in fuel efficiency.
Motorists are turning to XP100 due to complaints of reduced mileage and increased engine wear reported with E20, particularly among owners of older petrol vehicles.
A study revealed that 66% of older petrol vehicle owners reported a drop in fuel efficiency after the rollout of E20 petrol, while XP100, being ethanol-free, minimizes risks of damage in older engines.
Switching to XP100 is advisable for older vehicle owners who are experiencing mileage drops and concerns about wear and tear from E20, as XP100 does not contain ethanol.
XP100 offers better mileage, reduced engine wear, and is ethanol-free, making it a suitable option for those concerned about the negative impact of E20 on their vehicles.
A user wrote, “That is a massive efficiency gap. Better mileage and less engine wear win every single time.” Another user remarked, “Efficiency wins for sure. But XP100 is still hard to find outside metros. E20 is everywhere... that's why most people are stuck with it.”
A third comment read, “In comparison, E20 is costlier in addition to the damage it does to the vehicle.” A fourth user stated, “Nowadays, this xp100 is very rare. Most of the time, they are out of stock.” A fifth user replied, “Forget every petrol pump,..you won't find XP100 petrol at 90% of petrol pumps.”
A recent survey by LocalCircles reported a sharp increase in complaints from owners of older petrol vehicles over declining fuel efficiency and rising maintenance costs following the nationwide rollout of E20 petrol.
The survey analysed responses from more than 44,000 petrol vehicle owners across 305 districts, focusing on vehicles purchased in 2022 or earlier.
According to the findings, 66% of respondents reported a drop in fuel efficiency of more than 10%, up from 45% in May. Meanwhile, 55% said they had experienced unusual wear and tear or higher repair requirements, nearly double the 29% reported a month earlier.
The survey comes at a time when the Centre has informed the Supreme Court that the ethanol blending programme remains an ongoing "experiment", with its full impact expected to become clear only by 2027.
However, the government has rejected claims that E20 petrol causes a 30% drop in mileage. According to the authorities, the reduction in fuel efficiency is typically limited to 2% to 6%, which they say is offset by benefits such as improved acceleration and lower emissions.