The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a notification on October 23, 2026, amending the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The changes formally include E85 and E100 fuel in the regulatory framework, paving the way for vehicle manufacturers to develop and introduce flex-fuel vehicles designed to operate on these blends.
The notification amends provisions under Rule 115 relating to emission norms, fuel quality and vehicle testing. References to E100 have been added alongside E85 in various sub-rules to establish clearer requirements for testing and certification of vehicles powered by 100 per cent bio-ethanol. The changes are particularly relevant for manufacturers preparing to introduce E100-compatible cars in the Indian market.
The notification also revises vehicle weight limits. Under sub-rule (18) of Rule 115, the gross vehicle weight limit has been increased from 3,000 kg to 3,500 kg. The amended rules further clarify that E85 and E100 can be used only in flex-fuel vehicles specifically designed for these fuels by their original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
The government had sought feedback on the proposed changes in April this year. The latest move advances the regulatory process and is expected to support the manufacturing and use of flex-fuel vehicles in India.
E85 and E100 are ethanol-based fuels with different compositions. E85 contains approximately 85 per cent ethanol, with the remainder consisting of petrol. E100, by contrast, uses almost entirely ethanol. Vehicles running on these fuels require engines and fuel systems specifically designed to accommodate their properties, making them different from conventional petrol cars.
For owners of existing petrol vehicles, the distinction is important. Cars designed to run on regular petrol or E20 cannot directly use E85 or E100 unless they have been specifically engineered and certified for the higher ethanol blends. E20 contains up to 20 per cent ethanol, with the remainder being petrol. The use of fuels with ethanol concentrations above E20, up to E100, depends on the vehicle's compatibility and certification. Owners must therefore check whether their vehicles are approved for the relevant fuel before using it.
The government's decision is expected to make it easier for automakers to develop models based on flex-fuel technology. Such vehicles are designed to operate on different proportions of petrol and ethanol, allowing them to accommodate varying fuel blends.
Maruti Suzuki recently launched the Maruti Wagon R Flex Fuel, presented as India's first flex-fuel car. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari unveiled the vehicle. At the time of its launch, the company said the car could run comfortably on E85 fuel.
The price of E85 in Delhi was cited at Rs 82.12 per litre, approximately Rs 20 less than regular petrol, which was priced at Rs 102.12 per litre. The price difference highlights the potential fuel-cost advantage of ethanol blends, although the overall economics also depend on a vehicle's purchase price and fuel consumption.
Business Today tested the Maruti Wagon R Flex Fuel over a distance of approximately 30 kilometres on Delhi's congested roads, flyovers and open stretches. During the test, the car's driving experience felt similar to that of a regular WagonR. There was no significant difference in engine smoothness, acceleration remained normal, and the vehicle did not feel noticeably different to drive despite running on an alternative fuel.
Fuel efficiency, however, remained an important question. During the test drive, the car's multi-information display (MID) showed an average mileage of 11.8 kilometres per litre. This figure cannot be treated as a definitive real-world mileage result because the test involved heavy Delhi traffic, frequent stops, video shooting, prolonged engine idling and repeated acceleration. A longer test under controlled conditions would be required to establish the vehicle's actual fuel efficiency.
The starting price of the Maruti Wagon R Flex Fuel is Rs 7.24 lakh. The vehicle is based on the WagonR ZXi variant and costs approximately Rs 85,000 more than the corresponding regular petrol model.
This creates a key consideration for prospective buyers. Although E85 is cheaper per litre than regular petrol in Delhi, the flex-fuel vehicle itself carries a higher upfront price. The initial mileage check also did not establish a significant improvement in fuel efficiency.
The revised Central Motor Vehicles Rules establish a clearer regulatory framework for E85- and E100-compatible vehicles, but the transition to higher-ethanol fuels will depend on vehicles being specifically designed and certified for them. For consumers, the potential savings at the fuel pump must be weighed against vehicle costs and actual mileage, while manufacturers now have a clearer route to develop and introduce compatible models.
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