The government has permitted the use of E100 ethanol fuel in vehicles specifically designed to run on flexible fuel, through amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a gazette notification to this effect. The amended rules recognise E100 fuel for flex-fuel vehicles that are specifically designed and certified to use petrol blended with up to 100% ethanol. The amendment adds E100 alongside E85 fuel in the emission-related provisions applicable to eligible vehicles.
The decision is expected to pave the way for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to launch vehicles engineered to run on 100% bio-ethanol fuel. The government clarified that E85 and E100 may be used only in vehicles specifically designed and certified for these fuels. Vehicles designed to run on E20 petrol or conventional fuel cannot use E85 or E100.
