MoRTH amends motor vehicle rules to cover E85 and E100 flex fuel vehicles

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to support flex fuel vehicles that can use E85 and other high-ethanol fuels. The ministry announced the change on 26 October 2026. It said the rules take effect from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

What Happened

According to the ministry, the amendments update the emission certification provisions by expressly including E100 alongside E85. Vehicles certified for these fuels must meet the emission and safety requirements that apply to their category.

The ministry explained that E85 is a blend of petrol and ethanol containing up to 85 per cent ethanol by volume. The letter E stands for ethanol and the number shows its share in the fuel. E100 is a fuel made up predominantly of ethanol.

Flex fuel vehicles are specially designed to run on a range of ethanol and petrol blends from a single fuel tank, the ministry said. Their fuel system parts are chosen for the approved blends, and the engine controls adjust automatically to the fuel. Depending on a vehicle's design and certification, the range may extend to E85 or E100.

The notification also updates provisions related to biodiesel and makes technical corrections, the ministry said.

What It Means

The ministry said E85 and E100 are meant only for vehicles specifically designed and certified to use them, and will not apply to other vehicles generally available in the market or used until now. A vehicle that is compatible with E10 or E20 alone is not, for that reason, suitable for E85, according to the release.

For most car and two-wheeler owners, nothing changes. The ministry said the notification does not require owners of existing vehicles to switch to E85 or modify their vehicles, either now or in the future.

Before choosing a fuel at the pump, the ministry advised motorists to check the fuel compatibility sticker on their vehicle and follow the manufacturer's guidance in the owner's manual. Buyers of flex fuel vehicles can choose fuels within the range certified and declared by the manufacturer.

The ministry said greater use of domestically produced ethanol can reduce dependence on imported crude oil.

Source: PIB press release