Overview
- The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways formally amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules to include E100 in emission, fuel-specification and testing provisions, and the notification took effect on publication in the Official Gazette.
- The change allows original equipment manufacturers to type‑approve, register and sell flex‑fuel vehicles rated for blends up to E100 but bars use of E85/E100 in cars not specifically designed and certified for those fuels.
- Automakers have begun preparing models and one commercial example, Maruti Suzuki’s Wagon R Flex Fuel, is already on the market; other manufacturers such as Toyota, Tata and Hyundai are developing compatible vehicles.
- Wider consumer uptake depends on fuel supply and cost because ethanol has lower energy per litre than petrol and retail dispensing of E85/E100 remains limited, so station rollout and price per kilometre will determine commercial viability.
- The amendments also revise technical rules beyond ethanol—including updated emission-testing tables and raising a vehicle weight threshold to 3,500 kg—and build on India’s earlier E20 blending programme and public consultation process.