Centre Updates Vehicle Emission Framework to Include E100 for Flex-Fuel Vehicles

The Centre has updated the vehicle emission framework to include E100 alongside E85 for flex-fuel vehicles. This regulatory update provides for higher ethanol use in models designed by automobile manufacturers to run on these fuels.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on October 23, amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, replace references to E85 with 'E85 or E100' in specified emission tables. E85 refers to a petrol-ethanol blend containing up to 85 percent ethanol, while E100 refers to near-pure ethanol fuel.

Currently, E20, which contains 20 percent ethanol blended with petrol, serves as the nationwide base fuel. E85 has been introduced separately for vehicles specifically designed and certified to use it. However, the Petroleum Ministry stated in July that no decision had been taken to raise the nationwide base blending level beyond 20 percent.

The distinction between vehicle capability and certification was highlighted earlier by automakers. For instance, Maruti Suzuki noted at the launch of its first flex-fuel passenger car in June that the vehicle could operate on blends ranging from E20 to E100, but received certification using E85 because applicable rules previously defined flex fuel strictly as E20 to E85.

Under the latest notification, references to E85 in several tables of the rules are expanded to include E100. The notification also inserts an explanatory note specifying that E85 or E100 shall be used in vehicles designed by original equipment manufacturers as flex-fuel vehicles. These amendments take effect immediately upon their publication in the Official Gazette.

The final notification follows draft rules published on April 27, with the ministry noting that it had considered the objections and suggestions received during the consultation process.

On the fuel supply side, the Petroleum Ministry launched an E85 rollout across 48 public sector oil marketing company outlets in June. The ministry has announced plans to expand availability to 500 outlets by December 2026 and to approximately 5,000 outlets by December 2027.

Additionally, the notification replaces a B10 reference with B100 in one emission table and updates the gasoline column heading to explicitly refer to E10 and E20. Furthermore, the gross vehicle weight mentioned in the heading of a table under Rule 115(18)(i) is revised from 3,000 kg to 3,500 kg.

"The inclusion of E100 in the vehicle emission framework marks a progressive step for automotive manufacturers looking to build advanced flex-fuel engines in India. By aligning regulatory definitions with vehicle capabilities, the government is providing clearer pathways for original equipment manufacturers to test and deploy higher ethanol-blend vehicles. As supply infrastructure scales up across oil marketing company outlets over the coming years, this regulatory clarity will help automakers plan their long-term product roadmaps and support the broader transition towards alternative fuels." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes