India, Oct. 27 -- The Centre on Monday cleared a key regulatory hurdle for vehicles capable of running on 100% ethanol (E100), formally recognising this category alongside those fuelled by 85% ethanol (E85) in vehicle emission certification provisions.

The move comes amid nascent efforts to develop a market for flexi fuel vehicles -- those which can run on fuel with a high level of ethanol blending or petrol.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) notified amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, on October 23, published in the Gazette on October 26, replacing references to E85 with "E85 or E100" in specified emission-related provisions. The rules also specify that E85 or E100 can be used only in vehicles desig...