Overview
- Officials say a draft notification to permit petrol with 85% ethanol is ready and likely to be issued soon after initial vehicle testing and industry talks.
- People familiar with the plan say the government could start offering E85 by year-end, with the timeline still unconfirmed and adoption kept optional for buyers.
- The Bureau of Indian Standards has set specifications for E85 and is finalizing rules for mid‑range blends so fuel suppliers and automakers can build to a common standard.
- Automakers have told the government they can produce flex‑fuel models, though E85 will require engines designed for high ethanol content rather than today’s conventional petrol units.
- Fuel stations will need separate storage and pumps for E85, and the push follows India’s nationwide shift to E20 and a reported ethanol production surplus that could raise farm incomes and trim the oil bill.