Maruti Suzuki To Launch E20 Upgrade Kits For Older Cars
Most Indian car owners who own petrol-powered vehicles are concerned about their vehicles getting damaged due to increased ethanol blending. Thankfully, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, being the top automaker, is soon going to roll out E20 material upgrade kits for its older models that are not E20 compliant. As per reports, these kits will make 10–15-year-old Maruti Suzuki models run safely on E20 blended fuel (ethanol 20 percent and petrol 80 percent).
Maruti Suzuki to offer E20 upgrade kits
According to reports, the E20 conversion kits for 10–15-year-old Maruti Suzuki cars will be priced in the range of Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000 (depending upon the model). These kits will consist of new fuel lines, seals, and gaskets that will be ethanol-fuel compatible. The main aim of these kits is to safely run the old cars without damaging the fuel system.
Will other carmakers offer the same conversion kits?
At the moment, there are no reports claiming that any other automaker will be rolling out similar E20 upgrade kits. However, most likely, other OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) are expected to sell such kits, as most older cars are incapable of running on E20 fuel while providing high fuel efficiency and not damaging the fuel system components.
There are also speculations that the government could provide car owners with subsidies to install the E20 upgrade kits. However, there has been no concrete answer from the authorities on the topic. At the moment, most petrol car owners with older cars are seeing a huge drop in mileage and have been looking to get E5 or E10 fuel for their vehicles.
It must be mentioned that the Indian government, in June 2025, achieved the target of blending 19.92 percent ethanol in petrol across the country. This target of E20 was initially planned for 2030; however, the government was able to achieve it five years before the set date. Presently, all retail outlets of the public sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are dispensing E20 fuel.
Why will E20 upgrade kits become a huge need for petrol car owners?
As mentioned above, E20 fuel, due to the high composition of ethanol—which is made from sugarcane—degrades the fuel system of a vehicle. It damages the rubber, plastic, and certain metals that are not designed for high ethanol exposure. So owners will need to upgrade their cars with E20 upgrade kits so that they do not suffer from fuel leaks, corrosion, and premature component wear.
Presently, a number of petrol car owners across the country have highlighted that they are witnessing a reduction of around 1–8 percent in the mileage of their cars. The government, on the other hand, has stated that there will only be a 1–2 percent drop in mileage, which can be offset by engine tuning.
Experts and automakers have stated that E20 fuel’s corrosive nature damages engine and fuel system components. So, in the case of using this fuel and extensive damage, the companies will not be providing a warranty to vehicle owners. As a result of this, many owners are protesting that making E20 mandatory is suppressing their freedom of choice and will leave them with hefty repair bills.