Centre includes E100 in emission framework for flex-fuel vehicles

The Centre has updated the vehicle emission framework to include E100 alongside E85 for flex-fuel vehicles, providing for higher ethanol use in models designed by automobile manufacturers to run on these fuels.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, dated October 23, amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, replace references to E85 — a petrol–ethanol blend containing up to 85 per cent ethanol — with “E85 or E100” in specified emission tables. E100 refers to near-pure ethanol fuel.

Currently, E20, which contains 20 per cent ethanol blended with petrol, is the nationwide base fuel, while E85 has been introduced separately for vehicles specifically designed and certified to use it.

However, in July, the Petroleum Ministry said that no decision had been taken to raise the nationwide base blending level beyond 20 per cent.

The distinction between vehicle capability and certification was highlighted by Maruti Suzuki at the launch of its first flex-fuel passenger car in June.

At that time, the automaker said the vehicle could operate on blends ranging from E20 to E100, but had been certified using E85 because the applicable rules defined flex fuel as E20 to E85.

Under the latest notification, references to E85 in several tables of rules will be expanded to include E100.

Besides, the notification inserts an explanatory note specifying that E85 or E100 shall be used in vehicles designed by original equipment manufacturers as flex-fuel vehicles.

The amendments take effect from their publication in the Official Gazette, unless otherwise provided.

Furthermore, the final notification follows draft rules published on April 27, with the ministry saying it had considered the objections and suggestions received.

On the fuel supply side, the Petroleum Ministry had launched an E85 rollout across 48 public sector oil marketing company outlets in June.

It had announced plans to expand availability to 500 outlets by December 2026 and about 5,000 outlets by December 2027.

Additionally, the notification replaces a B10 reference with B100 in one emission table and updates the gasoline column heading to explicitly refer to E10 and E20.

In addition, the gross vehicle weight mentioned in the heading of a table under Rule 115(18)(i) will be revised from 3,000 kg to 3,500 kg.

Published on October 26, 2026