Govt Draft Rules Add E85, E100 Fuels – Higher Ethanol Blends Under Consideration Public Comment DEADLINE approx May 26, 2026

by Nabanita Singha Roy (Rush Lane) Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has issued a draft notification proposing key amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989. The move aims to update fuel classifications and emission norms in line with India’s growing focus on ethanol blending and alternative fuels.

The draft introduces provisions to formally include higher ethanol blends such as E85 and E100 within the regulatory framework. These changes are currently open for public feedback for 30 days, after which a final decision will be taken.

One of the most notable updates is the inclusion of E85 (85% ethanol) and E100 (near pure ethanol) fuels in emission and type-approval standards.

It is important to note that this is not an immediate rollout of E85 or E100 fuels. Instead, it is a regulatory step that allows testing, evaluation and future readiness for flex-fuel vehicles and supporting infrastructure.

The draft notification also proposes revisions to technical fuel classifications across emission tables.

For petrol vehicles, fuel description will be updated from earlier [(E10)/(E)] format to [(E10)/(E20)], aligning with current nationwide fuel standards.

Hydrogen fuel classification has also been revised from “Hydrogen+CN” to “Hydrogen+CNG”, reflecting updated terminology.

In addition, biodiesel references are proposed to be expanded from B10 to B100, indicating support for higher biofuel blends.

Another change includes an increase in the gross vehicle weight threshold from 3,000 kg to 3,500 kg in select categories under emission norms.

For car buyers, these proposed changes will not have any immediate impact, as E20 remains the current standard across India. However, this draft signals a future where flex-fuel vehicles could become more common.

Buyers may eventually have more fuel choices, but it will also mean paying closer attention to fuel compatibility when purchasing a vehicle.

Until infrastructure for higher ethanol blends like E85 or E100 is widely available, most users are unlikely to see any real-world changes. In the long run, the shift could lead to lower dependence on petrol, but factors like fuel efficiency, pricing and vehicle compatibility will ultimately determine its success among everyday buyers. READ MORE

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Excerpt from IANS/Hi India: The government has proposed widening the definition of automotive fuels to include higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel, as part of efforts to promote cleaner and more diversified energy use in the transport sector, according to a draft notification issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The draft seeks amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to enable the use of ethanol blends up to 100 per cent (E100) and 85 per cent (E85), along with biodiesel blends up to 100 per cent (B100).

The notification has proposed changes to hydrogen-CNG terminology, replacing ‘Hydrogen + CN’ with ‘Hydrogen + CNG’, along with other technical corrections in emission tables.

At present, vehicles manufactured after April 2023 are compliant with E20 fuel and are capable of running on ethanol blends of up to 20 per cent, with certain models engineered to support higher blends.

In a related move, the draft has proposed increasing the permissible gross vehicle weight for certain categories to 3,500 kg from the existing 3,000 kg.

The draft has been issued for public consultation, with the government inviting objections and suggestions within 30 days before finalising the amendments.

According to officials, the changes aimed at aligning regulatory frameworks with evolving fuel technologies and supporting India’s long-term goal of reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports. Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, recently underlined the need to scale up ethanol adoption, stating that India should work towards achieving 100 per cent ethanol blending in the future to strengthen energy self-reliance amid global supply uncertainties. Notably, countries such as Brazil have already adopted higher ethanol blending levels, offering a potential model for India as it expands its biofuel ecosystem.

Separately, the government has also taken steps to introduce biofuels in the aviation sector. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has amended norms to allow blending of ethanol in aviation turbine fuel (ATF). The move is expected to help lower crude oil import dependence and reduce carbon emissions from the aviation sector.In addition, India has set indicative targets for SAF blending, aiming for 1 per cent by 2027, 2 per cent by 2028, and 5 per cent by 2030, in line with global aviation sustainability goals.–IANSag/na READ MORE