India has taken a major step towards cleaner and alternative fuels. Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated the country’s first E85 fuel station in Delhi on Friday, officially starting the sale of E85 fuel in India.
E85 fuel contains 85% ethanol and 15% petrol. One of its biggest advantages is its lower price. In Delhi, E85 fuel is priced at ₹82.12 per litre, making it around 20% cheaper than E20 fuel.
Hero MotoCorp and Maruti Suzuki Introduce Flex-Fuel Vehicles
To support the use of E85 fuel, leading automobile companies have already launched flex-fuel vehicles in the market.
Hero MotoCorp has introduced flex-fuel versions of the Splendor Plus and HF Deluxe motorcycles, while Maruti Suzuki has launched a flex-fuel version of the WagonR.
These vehicles are designed to run on fuel that contains 85% ethanol and 15% petrol.
E85 Fuel Available at Delhi’s Pusa Road Station
The first E85 fuel station has been opened on Pusa Road in Delhi. Speaking after the inauguration, Hardeep Singh Puri clarified that E85 fuel is meant only for specially designed flex-fuel vehicles.
He emphasized that existing petrol vehicles cannot use this fuel. Automobile manufacturers will conduct proper testing before rolling out more E85-compatible vehicles in the market.
Government Plans Separate Number Plates and More Fuel Stations
The government is also considering a unique number plate system for E85-compatible vehicles so they can be easily identified.
According to the minister, Delhi-NCR and the Pune-Mumbai-Nagpur region could have between 50 and 100 E85 fuel stations within the next few weeks.
The government aims to expand this network to around 500 stations by the end of this year and nearly 5,000 stations by the end of 2027.
Lower Price Could Increase Popularity
The launch of E85 fuel comes shortly after the government introduced standards for higher ethanol-blended fuels such as E22, E25, E27 and E30.
Because E85 is cheaper than many existing fuel options, it could attract more consumers. However, only owners of E85-compatible flex-fuel vehicles will be able to take advantage of the new fuel.
As more compatible vehicles and fuel stations become available, E85 could play an important role in India’s transition toward cleaner and more affordable transportation.
