Government Plans E85 Fuel at ₹20 Per Litre Less Than E20 Petrol, Says Hardeep Singh Puri
New fuel will be available only for specially designed flex-fuel vehicles; move aims to cut fuel costs and boost India's ethanol blending programme
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri has announced that the Government of India is planning to introduce E85 fuel, which is expected to be around ₹20 per litre cheaper than standard E20 petrol. However, the fuel will be made available only for vehicles specifically designed to run on high-ethanol blends.
Speaking about the initiative, the minister said the proposed introduction of E85 is intended to provide substantial savings for consumers while accelerating India’s ethanol blending programme, a key component of the country’s energy transition and import reduction strategy.
Puri clarified that E85 fuel—containing up to 85% ethanol and 15% petrol—cannot be used in conventional petrol vehicles and will require dedicated flex-fuel or specially engineered engines capable of operating safely on high-ethanol blends.
The minister also strongly defended the government’s biofuel policy, rejecting concerns that ethanol-blended fuels could damage vehicle engines or reduce performance. He maintained that vehicles designed for the appropriate ethanol blend operate efficiently and safely, and that technological advancements by automobile manufacturers have addressed compatibility issues.
India has emerged as one of the world’s leading ethanol blending success stories, with the government significantly increasing ethanol procurement over the past decade. The ethanol blending programme has helped reduce crude oil imports, improve energy security, lower carbon emissions, and create additional income opportunities for sugarcane farmers and biofuel producers.
The proposed rollout of E85 represents the next phase of India’s clean mobility strategy. Alongside electric mobility, compressed biogas, and green hydrogen, higher ethanol blends are expected to play a significant role in diversifying the country’s transportation fuel mix.
Industry experts believe that widespread adoption of E85 will depend on the availability of compatible flex-fuel vehicles, expansion of fuel retail infrastructure, and consumer awareness regarding the proper use of high-ethanol fuels.
