en.Wedoany.com Reported - India will begin selling high-blend ethanol fuel E85. Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced this Friday that this fuel, which blends 85% ethanol with 15% gasoline, will be sold at a price approximately 20 rupees per liter cheaper than E20 (gasoline blended with 20% ethanol) currently sold in the country.

Puri stated that India plans to expand E85 to 50 to 100 gas stations in 2026, and to approximately 5,000 sales points by 2027. He emphasized that E85 fuel helps reduce pollution and the country's dependence on imported oil. India, the world's third-largest oil importer and consumer, achieved its target of blending 20% ethanol in gasoline in 2025.

Puri explained that the lower price of E85 fuel is due to its lower calorific value. In New Delhi, E20 is priced at approximately 102 rupees per liter (about $1.07). Indian automakers have begun launching flexible fuel vehicles compatible with higher ethanol blends. Manufacturers such as Maruti Suzuki and Hero MotoCorp have introduced flexible fuel-compatible versions of their popular models, the WagonR and Splendor.

In early April, India proposed allowing higher ethanol blends, such as E85 and E100, under vehicle regulations. This initiative aims to further reduce dependence on imported fuel. The Indian government faced opposition from drivers after the full rollout, who expressed concerns about potential impacts on vehicle performance. Additionally, Indian Oil Secretary Neeraj Mittal said on Friday that the government is developing a plan to promote the production of compressed biogas.

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