CHANDIGARH: For years, 100-octane petrol was the domain of performance enthusiasts and luxury car owners seeking an extra edge. Today, it is attracting a broader set of motorists.With E20 petrol becoming the standard fuel at retail outlets, owners of luxury, imported and non-E20-compliant vehicles are increasingly turning to ethanol-free 100-octane petrol, driving a sharp surge in demand despite its steep price of around Rs 167 per litre.Sales of ethanol-free 100-octane petrol in Chandigarh have jumped from just 4 kilolitres in July last year to 190 kilolitres this July, marking a nearly 48-fold increase.The rise comes amid growing concerns among vehicle owners about compatibility with E20 petrol and apprehensions that the higher ethanol blend could affect vehicle performance and fuel-system components.The premium fuel is currently available at only three fuel stations across the Tricity, two in Chandigarh and one in Mohali, all operated by a single oil marketing company.
Statistics
Data shared by the company with TOI show that despite the dramatic rise, 100-octane petrol still accounts for only about 1% of the company’s overall petrol sales in Chandigarh, underlining its continued appeal to a niche segment of motorists.According to company representatives, the increase has coincided with growing awareness about ethanol-blended fuels, vehicle compatibility issues and discussions among motorists following the nationwide transition to E20 petrol.“Earlier, very few people even knew that such a fuel existed. We had to explain the product, conduct promotional campaigns and encourage customers to try it. Over the past few months, discussions around ethanol blending and compatibility have made many motorists aware of specialised fuels. Customers now walk in asking for 100-octane petrol on their own,” a company representative said.The shift is also becoming evident at fuel stations. One Chandigarh outlet has been frequently running out of stock before the end of the day, with staff saying fresh supplies generally arrive at night.Another outlet reported daily sales of nearly 1,000 litres towards the end of July, significantly higher than earlier levels. Unlike regular petrol, which is supplied from nearby depots such as Jalandhar, the company’s 100-octane fuel is dispatched from its Panipat facility.The company has also recorded a rise in demand for its 95-octane petrol, which contains about 5% ethanol, indicating that some motorists are opting for fuels with lower ethanol content without shifting to the significantly costlier 100-octane variant.For many owners of premium vehicles, the shift is driven not just by performance but by concerns over compatibility.Auto enthusiast and rally driver Shiv Rattan Dhillon said many owners of European cars have been left with limited options after E20 petrol became the standard fuel at retail outlets.Dhillon says he is bearing the brunt of ethanol-blended fuel. “Over the past few days, my car started behaving unusually, and it finally threw up a fault code of low fuel pressure. It is because of the ethanol blended fuel.”
