Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Hardeep Singh Puri, along with NITI Aayog, on World Environment day have backed ethanol-based fuels as a way to cut fuel costs, boost domestic energy production, and secure India’s energy future.
Optional E85 and Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFV)
E85 fuel, a blend containing 85% anhydrous ethanol and 15% petrol, marks a major step toward reducing crude oil imports. Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) are specially modified to combust various ethanol blend fuels (such as E20 and E85). These are slightly modified versions of regular petrol-based vehicles designed to help achieve India’s vision of reducing fuel imports and costs. The launch is part of India’s broader Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) and its push for energy security, farmer support, and cleaner mobility.
The government will begin with 50–100 E85 dispensing stations on key urban corridors, including Delhi-NCR and the Mumbai-Pune-Nagpur corridor. Minister Puri announced targets of 500 outlets by the end of 2026 and 5,000 outlets by the end of 2027.
“To promote consumer adoption, the newly launched E85 fuel is priced significantly lower than conventional petrol, saving drivers roughly ₹20 per litre.”
