Centre launched E85 fuel for Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs)

Why in the News?

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Hardeep Singh Puri on 5 June launched E85 fuel at an Indian Oil retail outlet in New Delhi on the occasion of World Environment Day 2026.

What is E85?

• E85 is a high-ethanol blended fuel comprising 80–85 per cent ethanol and 14–19 per cent petrol, specifically designed for use in flex-fuel vehicles.
• The initiative aims to facilitate the adoption of Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs), which are capable of operating on ethanol blends from E20 to E100, without restricting consumers to a single blend.
• The primary difference in the two is the fuels’ composition and vehicle compatibility. While the standard E20 petrol contains up to 20% ethanol mixed with 80% conventional petrol, the new E85 shifts the balance and mixes 80%-85% ethanol blended with 14% to 19% petrol.

Salient Features of E85

• E85 is priced nearly ₹20 per litre lower than conventional petrol to ensure that the economic benefits of domestically produced ethanol are passed on to consumers.
• Flex-fuel vehicles operating on E85 can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by around 61 per cent compared to conventional petrol vehicles.
• With a Research Octane Number (RON) of about 108, ethanol offers superior knock resistance that allows engines to operate at higher compression ratios and optimized ignition timing.
• Higher ethanol blends promote cleaner and more complete combustion, resulting in near-zero particulate matter emissions contributing to improved urban air quality.
• Regular petrol vehicles cannot use E85 as it is engineered exclusively for specialized flex-fuel vehicles, or FFVs.
• The Union Petroleum Minister said that E85 fuel is exclusively for flex-fuel vehicles, not for regular E20 compatible vehicles. In Brazil, E85 fuel has been in use for decades.
• Flex-fuel vehicle engines can run on various ethanol-petrol blends ranging from E20 to E100. This will boost farmers’ income, reduce dependence on crude oil imports, and strengthen the country’s energy security. It reflects India’s ongoing strides toward a clean and self-reliant future.

Source: PIB