New Delhi: India has cleared the way for vehicles powered entirely by ethanol fuel, with the central government approving the use of E100 fuel in vehicles specifically designed and certified for it. The move will allow manufacturers to test and obtain approval for vehicles running on high-ethanol blends.
E100 refers to fuel made from 100% ethanol, a biofuel produced mainly from biological sources such as sugarcane and maize. Unlike conventional petrol, it contains no petrol blended into it.
The government has clarified that vehicles designed to run on regular petrol or E20 fuel cannot use E85 or E100. These fuels will be permitted only in vehicles specifically designed and certified by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
The approval will not affect existing vehicle owners. They will not need to modify their current cars or switch to ethanol-based fuel. Instead, E85 and E100 will provide an additional option alongside conventional petrol-powered vehicles.
Vehicles equipped with flex-fuel technology can use a range of ethanol-petrol blends through a single fuel tank. Depending on their design and certification, these vehicles can operate on blends ranging from E85 to E100.
Consumers will be able to use E85 or E100 only in new vehicles specifically developed and certified by manufacturers for these fuels.
