Overview
- E85 is now available at public pumps in Mumbai priced at Rs 91.18 per litre, substantially below the city’s regular petrol price of about Rs 111 per litre.
- E85 is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% petrol that must be used only in specially engineered flex‑fuel vehicles and cannot be used in standard petrol cars.
- Only a small set of models currently support E85 in India, including Maruti Suzuki’s WagonR Bioflex and selected flex‑fuel two‑wheelers from Hero and Suzuki.
- Ethanol contains less energy than petrol so vehicles running on E85 typically deliver lower mileage, which can reduce or erase the apparent per‑litre cost savings.
- The rollout is part of a government push to raise domestic ethanol use and cut oil imports, but wider adoption depends on more flex‑fuel models, more dispensing stations, and how real‑world fuel economy affects consumer savings.