- Both powertrains have their own merits and handicaps
- The best powertrain is the one that fully meets individual needs
If you were to buy a car in 2026, complexities associated with automobiles have increased manifold. On one hand, is the advent of EVs, and on the other, is ethanol blending in petrol. While you may deliberate a switch to EVs from ICE, or simply delaying a purchase, this article will help you make an informed decision.
The Elephant in the Room
To begin with, petrol vehicles have 20 per cent blended ethanol content. The central government has also charted out IB15 (15 per cent isobutanol in diesel) from 2027. With BIS having proposed standards of up to E30, this has caused panic among audiences, both existing and prospective alike. And this is justified, given the hasty E20 rollout.
While the centre says it has ‘achieved’ 20 per cent blending five years prior to the proposed deadline, the 1 April mandate for E20 does not scream achievement. However, sufficient public backlash has made the government push back E25 for an unspecified extension. This means E20 is here to stay for a while. But we are not making conclusions yet.
On the other hand, EVs have been slowly improving. While they completely cut out dependence on petrol, at least from an end-user perspective, they start feeding on a different resource – lithium. While other battery chemistries are still under experimentation, the EV infrastructure, especially in India, is improving, but not at the desired speed. Panic-buying EVs is already a thing, and the slowly growing and adapting infrastructure is still playing catch-up. Chargers are plenty in number, but a lot of them don’t work/are decommissioned, and there’s no unified app for EV charging.
The Buyer’s Dilemma
A current prospective buyer is stuck in a deadlock – A modern-day EV can provide a range of more than 500km, provided he shells out a certain premium for it. Whereas every ICE car can cover long distances, irrespective of the cost. But the corrosive nature of ethanol warrants updated powertrain hardware, reduced fuel economy, and increased maintenance costs, which in turn, results in higher costs per kilometre. With sufficient running, EVs can reach a break-even sooner, thanks to lower running and maintenance costs.
But the bottleneck with EVs is the overall sentiment that goes behind the purchase – what after the battery warranty ends? What would one do in case of spontaneous trip? Will the charging infrastructure support this use case?
Striking the Right Balance
This is a time when buyers are marred with uncertainties, given that each side – ICE and EV – has its own limitations. However, it is important to understand that policy requires public support, and ICE vehicles practically demand no change in its fundamentals. This type of vehicles, irrespective of the current ethanol situation, make perfect sense for those residing in remote areas, travelling long distances, or have irregular electricity supply.
On the other hand, one should go forward with purchasing an EV, if running and maintenance costs are factored in, trips can be planned, distances are fixed, and above all, it is viable to install a home charging point, the latter of which has been a massive limitation in Gurugram, as per reports of safety bottlenecks associated with home charging. These cars save big on maintenance and running costs.
It’s Not About Having a Bias
Some may like the nature of ICE powertrains for a connected feel, and others may like an EV for its silent operation and low maintenance. However, being powertrain-agnostic, matching the use case as per individual needs, and setting the right budget, further help in purchasing the right car.
