Government to notify testing norms for Flex Fuel Vehicles, hints at higher ethanol blending in petrol

NEW DELHI: Amid vigor proviso concatenation disruptions owed to the West Asia conflict, govt volition soon contented a caller notification laying down trial requirements for vehicles compliant for E85 to E100 fuel, oregon Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs), a determination that volition let OEMs — archetypal instrumentality manufacturers — to nutrient automobiles that tin tally connected 100% ethanol (E100).

Govt connected Wednesday besides signalled expanding the blending of ethanol successful petrol to trim dependence connected crude oil.Responding to a question connected expanding ethanol blending astatine an inter-ministerial briefing connected the West Asia crisis, Sujata Sharma, a associated caput successful the petroleum ministry, said, “The question is whether we are going to summation the basal fuel. I indispensable accidental that it is an thought whose clip has arrived.” Last week, powerfulness ministry officials astatine a gathering connected substance ratio had sent a akin hint to automobile industries of expanding ethanol blending beyond the existent 20%.In effect to a question of rotation retired of FFVs, Sharma said, “On 1 side, automobile companies person to support the vehicles ready. At the aforesaid time, our lipid selling companies besides person to beryllium acceptable to proviso that benignant of fuel. So, that workout is going on. It’s much of a stakeholder consultation and bringing antithetic stakeholders connected a communal platform.”On Tuesday, roadworthy transport curate Nitin Gadkari, portion speaking astatine an event, had said that the West Asia struggle has done “half the job” successful convincing policymakers and radical astir moving towards alternatives to petrol and diesel arsenic the situation stifles travel of vigor — crude and state — from the region.

Government’s propulsion for ethanol blended petrol (EBP) programme has helped India prevention astir 4.5 crore barrels of crude annually and the savings truthful acold successful presumption of overseas speech enactment retired to astir Rs 1.65 lakh crore.To alteration automobile majors to nutrient vehicles that tin tally connected higher blends of ethanol, the roadworthy transport ministry, successful Dec 2022, had notified the applicability of trial requirements for vehicles moving connected E5 to E85 fuels.

A draught notification issued successful June 2025 projected replacing the E85 information with “E85 oregon more”, but it was not finalised.With renewed absorption owed to the West Asia crisis, a revised draught notification is expected soon. Engines designed for E100 tin besides run connected little ethanol blends, from E20 upwards. Though astir conveyance manufacturers person developed FFV prototypes, commercialized accumulation has yet to begin.