- Flex-fuel vehicles now allowed to run on E85 and E100 fuels.
- Only specially certified models can use these ethanol blends.
- Existing E20 vehicles will not be affected by the new rules.
The Centre has amended the Central Motor Vehicle Rules to allow flex-fuel vehicles to run on E85 and E100 fuel, with the changes officially notified on Monday. The decision will let vehicles designed for flex-fuel use operate on blends containing up to 85% ethanol or pure ethanol. The move comes as some automakers prepare to launch E100-compatible vehicles in the Indian market.
The revised rules also bring E85 and E100 fuels under the country's emission norms. However, these fuels cannot be used by other vehicles, as only models specifically built and certified to run on them will be allowed to use these ethanol blends, officials clarified, as cited by PTI.
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Will E20 Vehicles Be Affected?
The senior road transport ministry official said that E20 vehicles will remain unaffected as they cannot use E85 or E100 fuel. Therefore, owners of existing cars do not have to switch to E85 fuel or make changes to their vehicles in the future.
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Will Flex-Fuel Vehicles Benefit India?
Flex-fuel vehicles are common in countries such as Brazil and the US, where they can run on petrol mixed with different amounts of ethanol. Depending on the model and its certification, these vehicles can use blends ranging from E85, which contains 85% ethanol, to E100, which is pure ethanol.
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Officials say shifting to ethanol-rich fuels could help reduce carbon monoxide and certain hydrocarbon emissions, since ethanol generally has a lower fossil carbon footprint than regular petrol. Wider use of this technology could also help India cut down on its dependence on imported crude oil.