Council approves increase in ethanol in gasoline from 30% to 32%

The CNPE also refuted that the mixture could cause damage to cars. "During the tests, aspects such as performance, drivability, cold start, fuel consumption and emissions were analyzed, both in a laboratory environment and in real conditions of use. According to the results, the use of E32 showed behavior equivalent to that observed with mixtures with a lower ethanol content, without relevant impacts on the operation of vehicles, including those equipped with non-flex engines", added a note from the collegiate, made up of ministers and civil society. READ MORE: Government should increase ethanol in gasoline to 32%; see which cars can feel the effects A drop of gasoline falls from the nozzle of a fuel pump at a gas station in Vélizy-Villacoublay, near Paris. Alain Jocard/AFP Tests on old vehicles As g1 showed, engineers say that older vehicles or those without specific calibration may suffer increased consumption, corrosion and component wear. According to technicians interviewed by the report, one of the main challenges is the compatibility of materials, especially in imported or older vehicles, designed to run only on gasoline and developed for lower ethanol levels. Anhydrous ethanol can absorb water from the environment and take it into the engine. The presence of water can affect metal engine components that were not designed for this condition. Furthermore, the combination of ethanol and water increases electrical conductivity, favoring electrochemical corrosion. All components that come into direct contact with the fuel need to be prepared for this new concentration of ethanol. Imported gasoline According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the adoption of E32 could reduce the need to import gasoline by around 500 million liters per month. In the ministry's assessment, this volume would be enough to make Brazil self-sufficient in fuel supply. The proposal is part of the Fuel of the Future policy, a regulatory framework created to expand the use of renewable fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector. ??In June 2025, the mandatory mixture had already been raised from 27.5% to the current 30%. Demand for ethanol For the Sugarcane and Bioenergy Industry Union (Unica), the increase in the mixture represents a continuation of the Brazilian policy of encouraging biofuels. "The measure was created within the scope of the Fuel of the Future program, based on technical studies, and reinforces the use of a renewable fuel produced in Brazil, contributing to energy security, decarbonization and reducing dependence on gasoline imports," the entity stated to g1. Unica estimates that the change will increase demand for anhydrous ethanol by around 1 billion liters per year compared to the current blend of 30%. The Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, has argued that the adoption of the E32 is supported by technical studies that prove the safety of the new mixture for the Brazilian fleet.