NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) on Monday notified amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, allowing flex-fuel vehicles designed to run on ethanol blends of up to E100, or nearly 100 per cent ethanol.
Ministry officials said fuels with ethanol blends above E20 (20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol) and up to E100 can be used only in vehicles specifically designed and certified for them. Vehicles designed for E20 or conventional petrol cannot use E85 or E100.
The ministry has also revised certain vehicle classification thresholds, fuel specifications and technical references in emission-related tables and testing provisions. It has raised the vehicle weight threshold for light petrol and diesel vehicles covered by the changes from 3,000 kg to 3,500 kg.
E100 is a bioethanol fuel intended primarily for specially designed flex-fuel vehicles. It typically contains 93-95 per cent ethanol, 5-7 per cent petrol and additives. Ethanol is produced from agricultural feedstocks such as sugarcane, maize and biomass.
The move is expected to reduce dependence on imported crude oil and help cut emissions.
“A vehicle's compatibility with E10 or E20 alone does not establish its suitability for E85. This notification does not require owners of existing vehicles to switch to E85 or modify their vehicles, either now or in the future. Motorists should check the fuel compatibility sticker on their vehicle and follow the manufacturer's guidance in the owner's manual before choosing a fuel at the pump,” ministry officials said.
Flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) are designed to run on a range of petrol-ethanol blends using a single fuel tank. Depending on their design and certification, they can use blends ranging from E20-E25 to E85 or E100. Their fuel-system components are designed for approved blends, while engine controls automatically adjust operation to the fuel composition.
Brazil, which has the world's largest fleet of flex-fuel vehicles, leads the technology. Vehicles there are designed to run on blends ranging from E20-E25 to E100. Nearly all new light vehicles and several motorcycles sold in the country have flex-fuel engines. FFVs are also used in the United States, Canada and parts of Europe.
With the West Asia conflict exposing India's vulnerability to energy supply disruptions, flex-fuel vehicles have gained added significance. Greater use of domestically produced ethanol could reduce reliance on imported crude oil.
In suitably designed vehicles, ethanol can also help reduce certain exhaust pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions over the fuel's production and use, depending on the feedstock and production process, officials said.
NITI Aayog classifies ethanol-based FFVs, including those running on high-ethanol blends such as E85, as zero-emission vehicles. E85 also produces near-zero particulate matter emissions, making flex-fuel technology a potential option for addressing air pollution.
In June, Maruti Suzuki India launched the Wagon R Flex Fuel, described as India's first flex-fuel passenger vehicle, capable of running on petrol-ethanol blends from E20 to E100.
The government has been promoting ethanol-blended petrol to reduce dependence on imported crude oil, a major contributor to India's current account deficit. The country has already rolled out E20 fuel, comprising 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol.
Major automakers, including Toyota Motor Corporation, Tata Motors and Hyundai Motor Company, are also developing flex-fuel vehicles for the Indian market as policymakers seek to reduce the country's fossil fuel import bill.