New Delhi: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) on Monday notified changes to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, allowing flex-fuel vehicles that can run on up to E100.
E100 fuel allows vehicles to run on nearly pure ethanol.
The move is aimed at promoting flex-fuel vehicles, to reduce dependence on imported crude oil and cutting emissions.
Amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules were notified on October 23, incorporating E100 alongside E85 in the rules governing vehicle emission standards, fuel specifications and testing procedures.
However, fuel beyond E20 (20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol) and up to E100 is only for vehicles designed and certified to use it and will not be applicable for other vehicles, a senior MORTH official said, according to PTI.
Vehicles that use E20 or normal fuel can’t use E85 or E100 fuel.
The ministry has changed certain vehicle classification thresholds, fuel specifications and technical references used in emission-related tables and testing provisions.
Additionally, the government has raised vehicle weight limit to 3,500 kg from the previous threshold of 3,000 kg for light petrol and diesel vehicles affected by these changes.
Maruti Suzuki India launched India’s first flex-fuel passenger vehicle in June, when it introduced Wagon R Flex Fuel capable of running on ethanol-petrol blends from E20 to E100.
Toyota Motor Corporation, Tata Motors and Hyundai Motor Company are also developing flex-fuel vehicles for the Indian market.
Flex-fuel vehicles are designed to run on higher ethanol blends such as E85 (85 per cent ethanol, 15 per cent petrol) and E100 (near 100 per cent ethanol), unlike conventional petrol vehicles currently approved for lower ethanol concentrations.