Govt introduces E85 fuel, explores wider ethanol adoption

The government has introduced E85 fuel for E85-compatible flex-fuel vehicles and is holding extensive consultations with the automobile industry on the future expansion of ethanol-based fuels, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Wednesday.

Speaking exclusively to IANS, Puri highlighted India’s progress in ethanol blending, stating that the country has surpassed its targets well ahead of



schedule.

He said ethanol blending in petrol has increased from 1.5 per cent in 2014 to 10 per cent in November 2022, while the target of achieving 20 per cent blending was accomplished ahead of time.

“From 2014 until now, we have increased ethanol blending from 1.5 per cent to 10 per cent, which was achieved in November 2022. Our target was to achieve 20 per cent blending by 2030, but we completed it in 2024 itself,” Puri said.