New Delhi: The central government has amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to include provisions for the use of 100 percent ethanol (E100) fuel in flex-fuel vehicles. These changes came into effect on Monday. The notification issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways makes several amendments to vehicle emission and fuel standards.
According to the ministry’s notification, several references to E85 fuel in emission standards and testing requirements have been changed to E85 or E100. However, the government has clarified that E85 or E100 fuel can only be used in flex-fuel vehicles designed for this purpose by original vehicle manufacturers (OEMs).
Changes in vehicle emission and fuel standards
The new amendments also change certain fuel and vehicle categories. The gross vehicle weight limit in a table related to emissions has been increased from 3,000 kg to 3,500 kg.
In addition, references to hydrogen-compressed natural gas (HCNG), petrol with up to 20 percent ethanol blending (E20), and biodiesel standards have also been updated. Technical corrections have also been made to tables and notes related to emission testing.
Ethanol-powered cars can reduce fuel costs
Earlier this year, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari stated that using a car running solely on ethanol could reduce fuel costs to approximately ₹25 per liter.
Gadkari stated that ethanol is being used in 19 countries worldwide, and no vehicle-related complaints have been reported in India at this time.
E25 Blending Could Boost Ethanol Demand by 2031
According to a separate report, if India’s ethanol blending rate reaches E25, ethanol demand in the country could reach 17.9 billion liters by FY 2031 in the base scenario.
According to an analysis by Brickwork Ratings, the country’s current installed distillation capacity of 18.25 billion liters is sufficient to meet the projected demand in both the base and bare scenarios.
According to the report, approximately 98 percent of existing capacity is expected to be utilized in the base scenario. If the ethanol blending rate remains at E20, demand is estimated to be approximately 14.3 billion liters in the bare scenario, representing approximately 78 percent utilization of existing capacity.
The government’s new regulations have clarified the regulatory provisions for the use of high-ethanol fuel in flex-fuel vehicles. However, E85 and E100 fuels will only be used in vehicles designed to be compatible with them.