While debates continue to swirl about the safety and efficacy of E20, India putting flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) on the road and opening retail sales of E85 in June went almost unnoticed. Beyond the din, this development deserves a patient hearing.
Blending went up from under 1.5% in 2013-14 to 20% in 2025-26, by-now famously 5 yrs ahead of schedule. Ethanol procurement went from about 38 cr litres in 2013-14 to 1,040 cr litres today. Production capacity grew nearly 5x. That represents a decade-long steady progression, not a hurried experiment.
