The Government of India has amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to include E100 ethanol fuel alongside E85 in specified provisions governing vehicle emission standards and certification.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued Gazette notification G.S.R. 911(E) on October 23, 2026. The notification was published in the Official Gazette on October 26, bringing the amendments into effect from the date of publication.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
The Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, have been amended through notification G.S.R. 911(E).
E100 has been included alongside E85 in specified emission-related provisions.
The rules restrict E85 and E100 use to appropriately designed flex-fuel vehicles.
Existing petrol vehicle owners are not required to switch fuels or modify their vehicles.
The amended rules took effect upon publication in the Official Gazette on October 26, 2026.
Under the amended rules, E100 has been included in several provisions of Rule 115, which deals with vehicle emission standards. The changes also update related certification requirements for vehicles designed to operate on high-ethanol fuels.
E85 is a petrol-ethanol blend containing up to 85 per cent ethanol by volume. E100 refers to fuel consisting predominantly of ethanol. Flex-fuel vehicles are specially designed to operate on different fuel blends, depending on their technical specifications and certification.
The amended rules specify that E85 or E100 must be used in vehicles designed by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as flex-fuel vehicles. The ministry has clarified that compatibility with E10 or E20 petrol alone does not make a vehicle suitable for E85 or E100.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The amendment establishes a regulatory framework for vehicles capable of using higher ethanol blends. Wider adoption will depend on vehicle certification, manufacturer participation and the availability of compatible fuels.
The amendment provides a regulatory framework for manufacturers to develop and certify vehicles capable of operating on higher ethanol blends. However, the notification does not announce a nationwide commercial availability date for E100 fuel.
The amendments also cover changes to biodiesel-related provisions and certain technical specifications under the vehicle rules.
