Overview
- Hero MotoCorp unveiled flex‑fuel versions of the Splendor+ and HF Deluxe that can run on blends from E20 to E85 and will reach dealers in Delhi and select Maharashtra regions with sales and deliveries starting in July 2026.
- The company reworked about 36 components, including a new fuel pump, reinforced fuel lines, an added fuel filter and a remapped ECU, to make the 97.2cc engine E85‑compatible and deliver a small power uplift on high‑ethanol fuel.
- Running on E85 reduces energy density and is expected to cut fuel efficiency by roughly 20 percent compared with E20, so per‑kilometre costs depend on the retail price of E85 versus standard petrol.
- Industry and Hero executives say retail economics are critical and recommend E85 be priced about 25–30 percent below E20 to make running costs comparable for consumers.
- Hero plans to roll flex‑fuel technology across its portfolio within one to two years and is exploring retrofit kits for some older BS6 motorcycles, but details on retrofit costs and a nationwide E85 rollout remain unresolved.