If you own a car or a bike, then you must have heard the ongoing outrage against E20 petrol in India. Thousands of vehicle owners are now complaining about lower mileage and less power output from their engines after the introduction of E20 fuels that have a blending of 20% ethanol. Many people are now considering higher-octane fuels like XP95, XP100, Speed97, Power99, etc., as these are claimed to have less ethanol compared to normal petrol.

We conducted an in-depth research of various types of petrol sold in India by Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum (HP), Shell, Nayara, Jio-BP, and others. The study also includes the amount of ethanol blending in each fuel. Let’s have a look at which petrol is best for your car or bike for engine safety, mileage, and performance.

Comparing Petrol Types in India

There is a huge misconception where people think XP95 means 95% petrol and 5% ethanol, and so on for other fuels like Speed97, Power99, etc. This is not what it means. The number mentioned in the fuel name denotes the octane rating of the fuel, which tells us how well the fuel burns inside the engine. A higher number indicates a more stable fuel, which can deliver better performance and mileage.

The octane number of a fuel has nothing to do with the amount of ethanol blending. For example, XP95 fuel by Indian Oil is mixed with 20% ethanol. Here’s a list of all the types of petrol sold in India, along with the percentage of ethanol mixed in them:

Note: Nayara and Jio-BP do not sell any premium petrol, hence their name is not mentioned in this list. These two companies only sell regular E20 petrol.

The information mentioned in this table is taken from the official websites of the respective oil companies. Hindustan Petroleum has also shared the same on its official X (formerly Twitter) account.

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Which petrol is best for your vehicle?

If you do not have an E20-compatible car or a bike, then putting E20 petrol in it puts your vehicle at risk of engine damage, tank corrosion, problems in fuel systems, etc. In such cases, you should look for petrol with minimal ethanol blending, such as Speed95, Power99, or even XP100 and Power100.

HP’s Power95 and Shell’s V-Power also have lower ethanol content compared to normal E20 fuel, but at 15% blending, the difference is not that huge compared to E20 fuel. If you want to experience a proper upgrade in performance and mileage, then you should look for petrol with 10% or lower ethanol content.

Also Read: List of Cars and Bikes Compatible with E20 Petrol in India

However, this is easier said than done, for two reasons. Firstly, high-octane petrol is priced significantly higher compared to normal petrol. For example, the price of normal E20 petrol in India ranges from Rs 100 – 103 per litre; whereas XP95 and Power95 are priced at Rs 115 – 118 per litre. The prices go even higher for better fuels, where Speed97 and Power99 are priced up to Rs 135 per litre, which makes them 30% more expensive compared to normal petrol.

Currently, XP100 is the purest form of petrol available in India with close to 0% ethanol. However, XP100 petrol is priced at Rs 160 per litre, which is highly expensive. This high cost is hard to justify when compared to the merits of using pure petrol, compared to E20 fuel.

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Let’s say that you are fine with paying higher prices for pure petrol for better performance, mileage, and engine protection. Now comes the second problem, the availability of high-octane fuels. In India, you can only find normal E20, XP95, and Power95 petrol across most petrol pumps. It is very difficult to find Speed97, Power99, and XP100 in India.

Even in metro cities like Mumbai and Delhi, XP100 fuel is tough to find. Since these types of petrol are priced higher, the demand for them is lower, which results in less availability. So even if you decide that you will put the best petrol in your vehicle, it is not a feasible solution.

If you have access to Speed97, Power99, or XP100, then you should definitely go for it, as they are cleaner fuels. However, for the majority of vehicle owners in India, you will have to make peace with E20 petrol. Your best option is to opt for XP95 or Power95, which, although they have 20% ethanol, will provide slightly better performance compared to regular E20 petrol.

FAQs

Q. Which petrol has the least ethanol?

XP100 by Indian Oil and Power100 by Bharat Petroleum have the least amount of ethanol blending, ranging from 0-4.5%.

Q. Is XP95 better than E20 petrol?

XP95 itself is an E20 petrol containing 20% ethanol blending. However, it has a higher octane number compared to normal petrol, and offers better performance and mileage.

Q. Does power petrol give more mileage?

Yes, power petrol with a higher octane number gives better mileage. However, the difference is approximately 3-5% compared to normal petrol.

Wrapping Up

The introduction of E20 petrol in India has created chaos among vehicle owners, as people are experiencing less mileage and performance from their cars and bikes. Shifting to higher-octane fuels like XP95, Speed97, and XP100 partially solves the problem, but many of these fuels continue to have significant ethanol blending. The Government of India is also planning to introduce E27 petrol in the future, so it looks like we have to be prepared for more such changes in the upcoming years.

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