E85, E100 Petrol Proposed: Govt Issues Draft for Higher Ethanol Blended Fuel

Government of India has officially issued a draft notification to bring in higher ethanol blended fuel – E85 and E100.

As of April 1, 2026, India already uses E20 compliant fuel as standard as Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas officially mandated that all petrol sold nationwide must be E20-compliant. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules to enable the use of E85 (85% ethanol-blended petrol) and E100 (pure ethanol) fuels in upcoming vehicles.

Key points to note:

• The draft has been opened for public comments, after which the government will take a final decision.

• The use of higher ethanol blended fuel such as E85 and E100 can reduce India’s reliance on crude oil imports, strengthening its push toward energy self-reliance, particularly in the automotive sector.

• E85 is a blend of up to 85% ethanol and 15% petrol, developed for vehicles specifically engineered to run on such mixtures, including flex-fuel vehicles.

Although E85 and E100 could strengthen India’s energy independence, higher ethanol blends may present cost-related and performance challenges.

• Ethanol has lower energy density than petrol, which can lead to lower mileage. Estimated drop in mileage is 6-8% in case of E20, whereas for E85, it will be much higher.

• Many automotive manufacturers in India have already made essential changes to engine components to support E20 ethanol-blended fuel.

• Transitioning to E85 fuel will require significant changes from manufacturers, leading to higher component costs and, ultimately, more expensive vehicles.

• Fuel stations offering E85 and E100 will also need to install separate storage tanks and dedicated dispensing systems for these higher ethanol blends.

Based on the above points, the introduction of higher ethanol blends such as E85 and pure ethanol E100 would require significant infrastructure changes for both automobile manufacturers and fuel stations across the country. As a result, a complete shift to E85 and E100 fuels in India appears unlikely in the near future.

While challenges remain, the shift to higher ethanol blends is expected to bring benefits such as lower fuel costs, reduced emissions, and more environmentally friendly vehicles. Is moving to higher ethanol blends the right step for India? Tell us your views in the comments below.

Also, take a look at the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ plans in the pipeline for a more sustainable future. Click the link to learn more.

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