The amendments expand India’s flex-fuel vehicle framework by extending emission certification provisions to include E100.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to formally recognise E100 fuel alongside E85, paving the way for wider adoption of flex-fuel vehicles capable of operating on high-ethanol blends. The move aligns with India’s broader efforts to reduce crude oil imports and deepen the use of domestically produced biofuels.
The amendments, notified on October 23 and published in the Official Gazette on October 26, update emission certification provisions to explicitly include E100 alongside E85. Vehicles certified for these fuels will be required to meet the emission and safety standards applicable to their respective categories.
E85 is a petrol-ethanol blend containing up to 85 per cent ethanol by volume. The letter ‘E’ denotes ethanol, while the number indicates its proportion in the fuel.
Flex-fuel technology is already widely used in countries such as Brazil and the US. These vehicles are designed to operate on a range of ethanol-petrol blends using a single fuel tank. Depending on their design and certification, they can run on blends up to E85 or E100, a fuel consisting predominantly of ethanol. Fuel-system components and engine controls are specifically designed to accommodate varying ethanol concentrations, automatically adjusting vehicle operation to the fuel composition being used.
“Motorists should check the fuel compatibility sticker on their vehicle and follow the manufacturer’s guidance in the owner’s manual while opting for the fuel choice at the fuel station. Advanced engine management systems automatically adjust vehicle operation according to the fuel composition, ensuring optimum performance under different driving conditions,” a Ministry of Road Transport & Highways official told Infrastructure Today.
The amendments supporting flex-fuel vehicles were first proposed in a draft notification issued on April 27, 2026, before being finalised after stakeholder consultations.
India currently blends 20 per cent ethanol under its Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, achieving the target in 2025-26, five years ahead of the original schedule.
Reduced Import Dependence
The increased use of domestically produced ethanol is expected to reduce India’s dependence on imported crude oil while supporting the country’s energy security objectives. Ethanol-blended fuels can also lower certain exhaust emissions and lifecycle greenhouse-gas emissions, depending on feedstock sources and production pathways.
“Ethanol has a lower fossil carbon footprint than conventional gasoline. The use of higher ethanol blends can help reduce tailpipe emissions of carbon monoxide and certain hydrocarbons, while contributing to lower lifecycle greenhouse-gas emissions, depending on the feedstock and production pathway,” the official said.
MoRTH emphasised that E85 and E100 are intended exclusively for vehicles specifically designed and certified to use these fuels. Compatibility with E10 or E20 fuels does not mean a vehicle can safely operate on E85 or E100. Existing vehicle owners are not required to switch fuels or modify their vehicles under the new rules.
The notification also updates biodiesel-related provisions and introduces technical corrections.