India has expanded its vehicle emission framework to include E100 alongside E85 for vehicles designed as flex-fuel models. The E100 emission rules do not change the nationwide base petrol blend, which remains E20.

Key Takeaways

  • Selected emission tables will refer to E85 or E100 instead of E85 alone.
  • The fuels are intended for vehicles designed by manufacturers as flex-fuel vehicles.
  • The amendments take effect on publication in the Official Gazette, unless otherwise provided; the publication date was not specified.

How the E100 emission rules change vehicle standards

A Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notification dated October 23, 2026, amends the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. It replaces references to E85 with “E85 or E100” in specified emission tables and adds a note that the fuels are to be used in vehicles designed by original equipment manufacturers as flex-fuel vehicles.

E85 is a petrol-ethanol blend containing up to 85% ethanol, while E100 refers to near-pure ethanol. The final notification followed draft rules published on April 27; the ministry said it considered the objections and suggestions received.

Vehicle capability and fuel availability

The change distinguishes a vehicle’s ability to run on a fuel from the standards used to certify it. At the June launch of its first flex-fuel passenger car, Maruti Suzuki said the vehicle could operate on blends from E20 to E100 but had been certified using E85 because the applicable rules defined flex fuel as E20 to E85.

E20, containing 20% ethanol blended with petrol, remains the nationwide base fuel. The Petroleum Ministry said in July that no decision had been taken to increase the base blending level beyond 20%.

The ministry launched an E85 rollout at 48 public-sector oil marketing company outlets in June. It planned to expand availability to 500 outlets by December 2026 and about 5,000 by December 2027.

Other amendments to emission tables

The notification also replaces a B10 reference with B100 in one emission table and updates a gasoline column heading to refer explicitly to E10 and E20. A gross vehicle weight figure in the heading of a table under Rule 115(18)(i) will change from 3,000 kg to 3,500 kg.

Next milestone

The next announced supply milestone is the planned expansion of E85 availability to 500 outlets by December 2026.

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