The Centre has cleared the regulatory pathway for E100 fuel in India, allowing flex-fuel vehicles specifically designed and certified by manufacturers to run on ethanol blends of up to E100, or nearly pure ethanol. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, with the changes coming into force following publication in the Official Gazette.
The most important clarification for vehicle owners is that this does not mean E100 can be used in every petrol car. A senior road transport ministry official said fuels above E20 and up to E100 are intended only for vehicles designed and certified to use them. Vehicles designed for conventional petrol or E20 cannot use E85 or E100.
Under the amended rules, references to E85 in several emission and testing provisions have been expanded to include E100. The notification also specifies that E85 or E100 must be used in vehicles designed by original equipment manufacturers as flex-fuel vehicles.
E100 refers to fuel containing nearly pure ethanol, while E85 contains 85% ethanol and 15% petrol. India has already moved to E20 petrol, containing 20% ethanol, as part of its effort to reduce dependence on imported crude oil and promote domestically produced biofuels.
The regulatory change is expected to give automakers a clearer framework to develop and introduce higher-ethanol flex-fuel vehicles. Maruti Suzuki has already unveiled a Wagon R Flex Fuel capable of operating on blends ranging from E20 to E100. Other automakers are also developing flex-fuel technology for the Indian market.
The government is promoting higher ethanol use as a way to reduce petrol consumption and crude-oil imports, while creating additional demand for domestically produced ethanol. However, widespread adoption of E100 will depend on the availability of compatible vehicles, fuel supply infrastructure and the economics for consumers.
The latest amendment also raises the gross vehicle weight threshold in one relevant emission table for light petrol and diesel vehicles from 3,000 kg to 3,500 kg and makes several technical changes to fuel and emission-testing provisions.