This Credit Card Can Save Your Vehicle From Nitin Gadkari's Ethanol Mixed E20 Petrol

The Indian fuel industry is undergoing significant changes. You've already experienced it if you've recently filled up at a petrol pump and seen "E20" on the dispenser or noticed a drop in your mileage. E20 indicates that your petrol now contains up to 20% ethanol, where the "E" stands for ethanol.

One of the most outspoken supporters of ethanol blending in India is Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who points to advantages including lower oil imports and increased farmer income. However, the shift raises useful queries for drivers, such as: Will my car be able to manage E20? What is causing my mileage to decrease? Is it possible to offset the growing expense of fuel?

In particular, this blog discusses how a fuel-focused credit card can help you manage fuel expenses through welcome benefits, cashbacks/rewards, and perks at petrol pumps. It also discusses the policy's motivations, the ethanol percentage issue in Indian petrol, and Nitin Gadkari's role and consumer concerns. In this blog, we will be discussing which fuel and which credit card can help you maximize savings.

The Reasons India Is Switching to E20 Fuel with Ethanol

What is mixing ethanol? 

Typically, sugarcane molasses or cereals like corn and broken rice are used to make ethanol. The consumption of pure fossil fuels is decreased when ethanol is blended with gasoline. E10 and E20 represent 10% and 20% ethanol, respectively.

Why is India acting in this way?

1. Energy Security: Blending ethanol lowers imports of crude oil.

2. Assistance for Agriculture: Increased demand for ethanol gives sugarcane and other commodities a new outlet, which could stabilize farmer earnings. Emissions: Under the correct engine settings, ethanol's cleaner-burning qualities can lower emissions of some pollutants, such as hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide.

3. Policy goals and Implementation: In an effort to promote the nationwide adoption of E20, India has accelerated its ethanol blending program. The deployment is phased and may differ depending on the outlet and location. Since 2023, several pumps have provided E20, with a wider push through 2024–2025.

4. Vehicle compatibility: A lot of the more recent models, particularly those introduced starting in 2023, are advertised as being E20-ready. Usually, older cars were built on E10 or even just gasoline. To find out if your model is compatible with ethanol, always consult your owner's manual or get in touch with the manufacturer.

Is Your Car Drinking More Fuel? Drivers Reveal the Shocking Truth Behind Mileage Drops!

• Reduced energy content:

  Compared to normal petrol, ethanol mixed has less energy per liter. Therefore, assuming all else is equal, you will obtain fewer kilometers per liter if the ethanol concentration is higher. Vehicles that are not tuned for E20 may have a discernible decrease in mileage when switching from E10 to E20.Many drivers report a drop of 1.5–3 km/l after switching to E20. Some premium or older vehicles suffer more due to a lack of tuning for ethanol blends.

  
  

• Mileage Drop Due to Ethanol-Blended Petrol in India:

  Mileage drop will be 2-3% for 10% ethanol, and for 20% ethanol drop will be 6-10%. For example, your car gave 18 km/l on pure petrol, with E20 it may drop to 16.2–17 km/l/l.For two-wheelers, users have reported even higher drops depending on engine compatibility

• Variability in the real world:

  Fuel quality, tire pressure, maintenance, driving habits, and traffic all have an impact on mileage. Although the percentage of ethanol is only one variable, it plays a crucial role during transitions.

  
  

• Types of Petrol Offered by BPCL or Other Petrol Pumps

Petrol Type	Octane Range	Ethanol Blend	Highlights
Base Petrol (MS)	Standard (≈ 91 RON)	E20	Regular unleaded petrol meeting BS‑VI standards
Speed (Premium)	≈ 91 RON + additives	E20	Enhanced engine cleaning and performance
Speed 97 (Higher)	≈ 97 RON	E20	Higher octane blend with performance additives
(Ethanol-Free Option)	100 RON (if available)	0%	Only non-E20 petrol, ultra-premium (if sold)

• Price Comparison

Fuel Type	Ethanol Content	Octane Rating	Approx. Price (₹/litre)
Regular Petrol (E20)	~20%	~91	₹100–105
Ethanol-Free Premium (XP100 / poWer100)	0%	100	₹160

So the ethanol-free premium petrol is 60rs higher than the regular petrol.

Nitin Gadkari Drops a Bombshell – Here’s What He Said

1. Strong support for ethanol:

   Nitin Gadkari has continuously promoted ethanol blending as a way to boost farmer incomes, cut emissions, and decrease oil imports. He has cited the successful adoption of ethanol in nations such as Brazil as an example.

   
   

2. Resolving customer concerns:

   Customers are worried about reduced mileage and possible compatibility problems as E20 becomes more widely used. In general, Gadkari's stance has called for improved industry readiness—labeling at pumps, automaker compatibility, and public awareness—while stressing that the long-term national benefits outweigh any short-term friction

   
   

3. What this implies for you:

   Anticipate an increase in E20 availability. You might encounter less impact and, in certain situations, comparable drivability with a minor mileage penalty if you drive a more recent, E20-compatible car. When dealing with older vehicles, make sure they are compatible, follow the recommended blend if it is available, and keep a tight eye on maintenance.

   
   

This Fuel Credit Card Could Cut Your Petrol Bills in Half – Here’s How!"

Fuel is a high-impact, ongoing expense. Through cashbacks, expedited reward points, fee exemptions, or milestone benefits, even modest percentage savings can mount up over the course of a year. The BPCL SBI Card Octane is a co-branded credit card specifically designed for Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) customers.

BPCL SBI Card Octane: The Fuel Hack Smart Drivers Don’t Want You to Know!

1. Cashback Rate

• Users will get 25 points on spending every INR 100 at BPCL petrol pumps + Bharat Gas + BPCL fuel lubricants. 

• Value of 1 point = INR 0.25. Effective cashback rate: 6.25% (Capped at 2500 reward points per month). 

• 10 reward points for every 100 spent at dining, departmental stores, grocery stores, and movies. Dining & entertainment cashback rate: 2.5% (Capped at 7500 reward points per month). 

• 1 reward point on INR 100 on all other spends. Effective general cashback rate: 0.25%.

2. Convenient redemption at BPCL:

   In most cases, points can be exchanged for petrol at BPCL bunks or for vouchers or statement credit on the issuer's website. Every INR 100 spent at BPCL Petrol bunks, Bharat Gas, and BPCL fuel lubricants would earn users 25 reward points. So that people can use a Higher octane blend petrol(i.e, Speed Premium, Speed 97 Higher and Ethanol-Free Option as mentioned above ) for their vehicles easily using this card in any BPCL petrol bunks.

   For example, you spend ₹5,000 in a month (across BPCL petrol, Bharat Gas, or lubricants).

   Points earned = (₹5,000 ÷ 100) × 25 = 1,250 points

   Cashback value = 1,250 × 0.25 = ₹312.5

   You get 6.25% cashback(as mentioned above)

   
   

3. Benefits of the milestone and welcome:

   
   

   Welcome Bonus: Upon paying the annual fees, users will receive 6000 bonus reward points valued at Rs 1500.

   
   

   Milestone Benefit: When users spend INR 3 lakhs a year, they will receive gift certificates worth INR 2,000 from Aditya Birla Fashion, Yatra, or Bata/Hush Puppies.

   
   

4. Daily categories:

   Although the acceleration is typically less than that of fuel, these cards may also provide higher rewards on typical expenses like groceries, restaurants, or utility purchases. Every 100 dollars spent on dining, department stores, groceries, and movies earns 10 reward points.

   
   

Benefits of Using the Octane BPCL SBI Card

Good value at BPCL locations:

The card's accelerated rewards will significantly reduce your effective per-liter cost if you often fill up at BPCL, particularly on city commutes when your mileage may have decreased with E20.

Waiver of Spend-based fees 

Your charge for the following year can be waived or lowered if you reach a certain annual spending goal. This can effectively make the card fee-neutral for households whose monthly grocery and gas expenditures are predictable.

Co-branded Availability and Network:

BPCL offers a large network of gas stations throughout India, which makes it simpler to locate locations that qualify for incentives and redemptions.

Annual charge and Waiver

The membership fee of INR 499, including taxes. The annual renewal fee is INR 499 plus taxes. Redemption fees for rewards are INR 99 per redemption.

Stop Wasting Money at Petrol Bunks – Here’s the Secret to Big Savings using Octane BPCL SBI Card

When Possible, always select BPCL:

At partner stations, co-branded cards offer the best value. You will typically receive a substantially lesser incentive rate if you fill at non-BPCL stores.

Make Use of the BPCL POS device:

Only after the transaction is completed on the partner's point-of-sale terminal do many co-branded advantages become active. Request politely that the attendant make sure the BPCL POS.

Redeem Points for Petrol:

Frequently, using points to purchase fuel offers greater value than statement credits or gift cards.

Validity and Track Redeem points:

Points may expire after a predetermined amount of time, and rewards may have a monthly cap. Set reminders to redeem before expiry.

Benefits and Drawbacks of the Octane BPCL SBI Card

Advantages:

Increased Value on BPCL Refueling:

If BPCL is your preferred fuel source, the card can drastically lower your effective fuel costs, even though you're using premium quality petrol and which helps to increase mileage during the E20 transition.

Benefits of the Milestone and Welcome:

If you budget your expenses, you can avoid or reduce the annual charge by taking advantage of spend-based fee waivers and joining bonuses.

Potential Accelerators for Categories:

It is helpful daily because non-fuel categories might also receive increased incentives.

Broad BPCL network:

Finding qualified pumps around the country is made easier, increasing the likelihood that you will take advantage of the card's main advantages.

Drawbacks:

Advantages Centered at BPCL

Your savings could be small if the pump in your neighborhood is not BPCL. You can only access the full amount of the card if you commit to BPCL stores.

Conditions and Caps:

Monthly restrictions, acceptable transaction ranges, and point-of-sale requirements are frequently associated with accelerated incentives and fee waivers. Your savings will decrease if you miss these. Annual costs for premium co-branded fuel cards may be greater than those for entry-level cards. Without the spend-based waiver, you might not break even if your gasoline expenditure is low.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will my engine be harmed by E20?

You should be all right if your car is E20-ready. Extended usage of higher ethanol blends in older cars can cause stress on parts (such as fuel lines, seals, and injectors) that aren't made for ethanol, especially if they aren't calibrated properly. Observe the manufacturer's instructions at all times.

2. Why do I get less mileage at some pumps?

Traffic, driving technique, tire pressure, and fuel blend all affect real-world mileage. Try a different BPCL outlet and compare the results over several tanks if you observe a regular drop at a certain station.

3. Can the mileage decline be completely offset by credit card rewards?

Although they are helpful, rewards cannot eliminate the energy-density difference of ethanol. Consider the card as a consistent savings on a necessary cost rather than a comprehensive solution.

4. Do I have to carry more than one card?

Some consumers carry a generic cashback card for everything else, plus a co-branded gasoline card for their preferred OMC. It may be possible to replace or supplement a co-branded option with a standard fuel cashback card if you often find yourself at non-BPCL pumps.

CONCLUSION

Nitin Gadkari is leading India's campaign for ethanol, which aims to lower certain emissions, assist farmers, and improve energy security. When E20 replaces E10, consumers frequently see the immediate, palpable impact of a slight but discernible decrease in mileage, particularly in cars that aren't tuned for higher ethanol mixes. Although you have no power over the national fuel blend, you do have authority over your household budget. A fuel-first approach that adheres to smart pump procedures, refuels frequently at BPCL bunks, and uses a co-branded card like the BPCL SBI Card Octane can shave meaningful rupees off your monthly fuel bill instead of using premium

quality petrol.

Before you apply:

• Verify the latest BPCL SBI Card Octane features, fees, caps, redemption rules, application process, unbiased AI score, and other details on our website. click here

• Check your nearest BPCL outlets’ availability and POS setup.

• Confirm your vehicle’s ethanol compatibility and keep up with maintenance.