Mumbai, Oct. 29 -- The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules to recognise E100 as an approved fuel option alongside E85 for flex-fuel vehicles. The notification was issued on October 23 and published in the official gazette on October 26, bringing the changes into immediate effect.
E100 refers to fuel containing 100 per cent ethanol, or a near-100 per cent concentration where small quantities of water are present to support combustion. Flex-fuel vehicles are designed to operate on varying mixtures of ethanol and petrol, ranging from pure petrol to high-ethanol blends, with onboard sensors adjusting engine parameters as required.
Under the amended rules, vehicles designed and certified for high-ethanol fuels can use both E85, comprising 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol, and E100. Conventional petrol vehicles, including those operating on the nationwide E20 blend, are not authorised to use these fuels without the necessary certification and technical modifications.
The final notification follows draft rules issued on April 27. The ministry reviewed objections and suggestions received during the consultation before approving the amendments. The regulatory change provides a formal framework for automakers developing and introducing E100-compatible flex-fuel vehicles in India, with the broader objective of reducing dependence on crude oil imports.
The transition to high-ethanol fuels requires changes to several vehicle systems. Seals, fuel lines and injectors must be upgraded to withstand ethanol's corrosive properties, while engine management systems require recalibration for its different combustion characteristics. Ethanol provides roughly one-third less energy per litre than petrol, which could require larger fuel tanks or more frequent refuelling. Brazil has operated a mature flex-fuel programme since 2003, although motorists there generally retain the option of buying petrol with lower ethanol content.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.