Reacting to the Union government’s draft rules proposing E85 (85% ethanol) and E100 (near-pure ethanol) fuels, Grain Ethanol Manufacturers Association (GEMA) President Dr Chandra Kumar Jain said the move could significantly scale up ethanol consumption while benefiting multiple stakeholders.

“It is very good news for the industry, farmers and the consumers. It means the consumption from E20 to E85 will go four times." He also states that not all vehicles can be E85. Don’t expect all vehicles to be E85. There will be some vehicles on E20, some on E50, and some on E100. That is how this thing should work,” he said.

Jain added that while higher blending presents a strong opportunity, a full transition away from petrol is not realistic. “On average, 40–45% petrol can be replaced by this. 100% is really not possible. Bikes can take 100%, but 4-wheelers cannot take. They can take 40, 50 or 60%,” he noted.

What is driving the shift to E85 and E100 now?

Jain’s comments come as India moves to expand its ethanol roadmap beyond E20, following the nationwide rollout of 20% blended fuel on April 1, 2026.

The government has proposed draft amendments to formally introduce E85 and E100 fuels into the automotive ecosystem, marking the next phase of its ethanol-blending strategy. The push is aimed at better utilising India’s estimated 20-billion-litre ethanol production capacity—nearly double the current domestic demand of around 10 billion litres.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has proposed changes to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules to accommodate higher ethanol blends, standardise fuel classifications, and revise emission-testing norms. The draft has been opened for public consultation for 30 days, after which a final framework is expected to be notified.

At the core of the proposal is a broader regulatory reset. The draft formally brings E85 and E100 into the fuel framework while expanding definitions across alternative fuels. Petrol classification is set to move beyond the existing E10 and E20 categories, and biodiesel norms are proposed to be updated from B10 to B100.

The changes also align technical standards and emission parameters with higher ethanol blends, laying the groundwork for vehicles capable of running on significantly higher ethanol content. The broader policy objective remains reducing dependence on crude oil imports, particularly in the context of volatile global energy markets, while creating demand for surplus ethanol capacity.