NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to recognise E100 fuel for flex fuel vehicles specifically designed and certified to operate on petrol blended with up to 100% ethanol.
Notified on October 23, the changes update Rule 115 and related provisions to extend emission requirements to eligible flex fuel vehicles running on E100, alongside E85. The amendment also revises certain vehicle classification thresholds, fuel specifications and technical references used for emission testing.
The revised rules do not permit every petrol vehicle to use higher ethanol blends. Vehicles designed for E20 or regular petrol cannot use E85 or E100 unless they are specifically engineered and certified for those fuels.
E100 contains nearly 100% ethanol, while E85 consists of 85% ethanol and 15% petrol. E20, already introduced in India, contains 20% ethanol and 80% petrol.
Flex fuel vehicles are built to handle higher ethanol concentrations than conventional petrol vehicles. The amendment provides regulatory recognition for vehicles approved to use these alternative fuel blends.
The government has also raised the vehicle weight threshold from 3,000 kg to 3,500 kg for the light petrol and diesel vehicles covered by the changes.
Maruti Suzuki India launched the Wagon R Flex Fuel in June 2026, describing it as India’s first flex fuel passenger vehicle. The model is designed to operate on ethanol petrol blends ranging from E20 to E100.
Other automakers, including Toyota, Tata Motors and Hyundai, are also developing flex fuel vehicles for the Indian market as the government encourages wider adoption of alternative fuels.
India is promoting ethanol blended petrol to reduce its dependence on imported crude oil, which contributes significantly to the country’s import expenditure and current account deficit.
The push has gained importance amid energy supply concerns linked to the conflict in West Asia. Greater adoption of ethanol blends and compatible vehicles could help reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports and support the country’s efforts to diversify its energy sources.
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