India launches E85 ethanol fuel and expands flex‑fuel network

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated E85 fuel in Delhi on World Environment Day, pricing it at ₹82.12 per litre—about ₹20 cheaper than regular petrol. E85 is an 80‑85% ethanol blend designed for flex‑fuel vehicles.

The government plans a phased rollout of ethanol dispensing stations: an initial 48‑100 outlets in Delhi‑NCR, Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur, expanding to 500 by the end of 2026 and around 5,000 by 2027. The rollout aims to raise India’s ethanol blending level to nearly 26% by 2030‑31, cut crude‑oil imports, and generate income for farmers.

Flex‑fuel models such as Hero MotoCorp’s Splendor+ and HF Deluxe motorcycles and Maruti Suzuki’s WagonR have been launched to run on blends from E20 up to E85. The shift is projected to reduce greenhouse‑gas emissions by up to 61% and lower fuel costs for consumers while supporting domestic ethanol production.