MoRTH Amends Motor Vehicle Rules for E85, E100 Flex Fuel

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to clear the path for flex fuel vehicles that run on E85 and other high ethanol fuels. The change rewrites the emission certification provisions so that E100 is named expressly alongside E85. Any vehicle certified for these fuels must still meet the emission and safety requirements that apply to its category.

What E85 and E100 mean

In this shorthand the letter E stands for ethanol and the number that follows gives the share of ethanol in the fuel. E85 is therefore a blend of petrol and ethanol carrying up to 85 per cent ethanol by volume, while E100 is a fuel made up predominantly of ethanol.

How a flex fuel vehicle works

Flex fuel technology is not new; Brazil and the United States already use it widely. Such a vehicle is built to run on a range of ethanol and petrol blends out of a single fuel tank. Depending on how it is designed and certified, that range may stretch to E85 or even E100. The fuel system components and materials are chosen for the approved blends, and the engine controls adjust automatically to whatever fuel composition is in the tank. The driver can therefore pick any fuel within the band the manufacturer has certified and declared.

Why the government wants it

Ethanol made at home can replace part of the imported crude oil the country buys, cutting that dependence. Used in vehicles designed for it, ethanol can also bring down some exhaust pollutants and lower greenhouse gas emissions across the fuel's production and use, though how much depends on the feedstock and the production process.

What it does not mean for existing owners

The notification applies only to vehicles specifically designed and certified for these fuels. It does not cover the vehicles generally sold or used until now. The Ministry made clear that a vehicle's compatibility with E10 or E20 alone does not make it suitable for E85, and that no owner of an existing vehicle is required to switch fuels or modify the vehicle, now or later. Motorists were advised to read the fuel compatibility sticker on the vehicle and follow the owner's manual before choosing a fuel at the pump. The amendments also update provisions on biodiesel and make technical corrections, and the rules take effect from the date they are published in the Official Gazette.