Government Amends Motor Vehicle Rules to Permit E100 Ethanol Fuel for Flex-Fuel Vehicles

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to include E100 alongside E85 in emission standards for compatible flex-fuel vehicles. The update also revises the gross vehicle weight threshold from 3,000 kg to 3,500 kg, following draft rules issued earlier in April 2026.

NEW DELHI: The Union Government has officially permitted the use of E100 ethanol fuel in vehicles specifically designed to run on flexible fuel. The decision has been enacted through recent amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, notified by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

According to the official Gazette notification, the government has included E100 alongside E85 within the prescribed emission standards for flex-fuel vehicles. This regulatory update paves the way for the operation of vehicles designed to run on nearly pure ethanol. The notification, issued under G.S.R. 911(E), specifies that either E85 or E100 shall be utilized in vehicles designed by original equipment manufacturers as flex-fuel vehicles.

E100 represents fuel containing 100 per cent ethanol, whereas E85 contains 85 per cent ethanol. Flex-fuel vehicles are engineered to operate on various blends of petrol and ethanol. This amendment marks a step in India's broader efforts to expand the use of alternative fuels in the transport sector and decrease reliance on conventional petrol. However, the regulatory provision applies strictly to vehicles purposefully designed by manufacturers for such fuels and does not extend permission to standard petrol-powered vehicles.

As part of the amendments, references to “E85” across multiple provisions of Rule 115—which governs vehicle emission standards—have been updated to read “E85 or E100”. Additionally, the government has revised the gross vehicle weight threshold specified in the relevant emission standards, shifting the limit from 3,000 kg to 3,500 kg.

The formal changes follow draft rules originally issued on April 27, 2026, which invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders. The ministry confirmed that public feedback and suggestions regarding the draft rules were reviewed by the Central Government prior to final implementation. The amended rules come into force immediately from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

While the notification establishes a clear regulatory framework for E100-compatible flex-fuel vehicles, it does not outline a specific timeline for the commercial availability of E100 fuel across retail outlets nationwide.

"The inclusion of E100 in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules provides crucial regulatory clarity for original equipment manufacturers developing flex-fuel vehicles in India. While this policy supports the broader push toward alternative transportation fuels and reduced reliance on conventional petroleum, the pace of commercial adoption will ultimately depend on the widespread availability of E100 infrastructure and fuel retail networks across the country." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes