More ethanol, more hustle, more productivity? Bengaluru man's satirical post on ethanol blending, petrol prices goes viral

A Bengaluru-based professional’s satirical post on LinkedIn has gone viral after being widely shared on Reddit, sparking debate over ethanol blending and petrol prices. Taking a dig at the rising petrol prices, the man said that the fuel price hike not as a burden, but as a motivation to hustle, earn more, and improve work ethic.

“Today I paid more for petrol. And I smiled,” the post begins. Referring to the government’s policy of blending ethanol into fuel, which he claimed reduces mileage and increase the number of fuel refills, the post frames the development as more than just an economic change. “Yes, ethanol reduces mileage, which means more frequent trips to the pump,” he writes. “But here's what I realised: this is not about a policy change. It's a mindset shift.”

More refills, more hustle

The user explains that the increased trips to the fuel station act as reminders to push harder professionally. “Lower mileage means I refill way more often. This means I need to earn way more money. Which means I have to hustle and grind way more,” he writes.


“Every additional trip to the petrol station reminds me that I need to work smarter and harder. It’s a quiet reminder that I’m not doing enough. I could be selling more, building faster, sleeping less.”

The post links this personal reflection to a broader idea that the government may be indirectly encouraging citizens to work harder. “The govt’s not just changing the fuel. They’re quietly improving our work ethic.”

It ends with a line that has resonated widely, though not always positively, online: “Sometimes your best VC isn’t a venture capitalist. It's the Ministry of Petroleum.”

Viral response reflects divided opinion

The post quickly spread across Reddit and other platforms, with users responding with a mix of satire, criticism, and support. While some called the perspective refreshing, others questioned the logic of treating higher fuel prices as personal motivation.

Ethanol Blending Controversy

Amid growing debate on social media around the impact of ethanol-blended petrol, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas clarified on Monday that E20 petrol does not harm older vehicles. Responding to concerns flagged in some media reports, the ministry said such claims are not backed by scientific data or expert findings. In a post on platform ‘X’, it pointed to international studies that tested both carbureted and fuel-injected vehicles over 100,000 km. The tests showed no major differences in fuel consumption, power, or torque. The government has already mandated E20 material compliance for vehicles made in India since April 2023, with full E20 compliance required from April 2025.