Demand for 100-octane premium petrol has more than doubled recently. This fuel remains the only grade without ethanol blending. The increase comes amid growing concerns about possible vehicle issues from ethanol-mixed fuel. The demand rise became especially visible during July. At that time, debates around ethanol blending became stronger across the country. Government oil marketing companies sell 100-octane petrol under different brands.
Indian Oil Corporation sells XP100, Bharat Petroleum sells Speed100, and Hindustan Petroleum sells Power100. This fuel category mainly targets supercars, luxury sedans, and superbikes. However, demand remains limited compared with regular petrol sales. It contributes only 0.1 percent of total petrol sales in India. The price of this fuel also remains significantly higher than normal petrol. A report stated that social media claims about ethanol-related vehicle damage increased demand.
Delhi recorded the highest demand for ethanol-free petrol. However, the Petroleum Ministry, IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL have not issued official statements.
100-Octane Petrol Costs Much More Than Regular Fuel
In Delhi, ethanol-free 100-octane petrol costs around ₹160 per litre. This price stands nearly 57 percent above regular petrol rates.
Meanwhile, normal E20 petrol costs ₹102.12 per litre in Delhi. E20 premium grades like XP95, Speed97, and Power95 cost around ₹111-112 per litre. Similarly, Mumbai sells 100-octane petrol at nearly ₹167.35 per litre. Regular petrol costs ₹111.21 per litre there. Additionally, E20 premium fuel costs around ₹120-121 per litre in Mumbai. Sources said fewer than one percent fuel stations provide 100-octane petrol.
Therefore, this premium fuel remains mostly available in metropolitan cities.
Experts Expect Current Demand Surge To Be Temporary
Officials believe the recent demand increase may continue only briefly. They expect sales to decline when ethanol concerns reduce.
A senior official said this fuel targets super-premium vehicles. However, current trends show regular vehicle owners are also buying it.
The official added that this pattern cannot continue for long. Regular owners may face significantly higher fuel expenses. The government confirmed that premium petrol sold by public fuel retailers will continue without ethanol blending. Government clarified that it has no decision to increase ethanol blending beyond 20 percent. It also rejected proposals to restart E0 or E10 petrol.
100-Octane Petrol Offers Higher Engine Protection
100-octane petrol has a Research Octane Number of 100. Therefore, it controls engine knocking better than regular petrol.
Its higher octane rating allows engines to handle greater temperature and compression before fuel ignition. Hence, this fuel suits high-performance and high-compression engines. A recent buyer said 100-octane fuel costs much more than E20 petrol. The customer added that mileage benefits do not justify the expense.
According to the customer, the main advantage involves avoiding possible engine damage from ethanol-blended fuel.
E20 Petrol Controversy Continues Over Vehicle Performance
E20 petrol remains controversial because some vehicles may face issues with this fuel. Older models may experience faster component damage.
Additionally, some vehicles may show lower mileage and higher maintenance costs.
Earlier, the government acknowledged that E20 petrol can reduce mileage by 3-5 percent compared with regular petrol. However, the government also highlighted several benefits of E20 fuel. It said the blend provides higher octane rating and better anti-knocking performance. The government added that E20 burns faster, improves pickup, helps vehicles gain speed easily, and keeps engines cleaner. Meanwhile, the government ruled out selling pure petrol or E10 fuel again. It also said public sector banks provided nearly ₹1 lakh crore annually for ethanol production and related infrastructure.
