Government clears E100 for flex-fuel vehicles; can existing petrol cars use it?

The Road Transport Ministry has updated India’s vehicle emission framework to include E100, allowing flex-fuel vehicles to run on ethanol-blended fuel of up to nearly pure E100, alongside E85. The change came through notifications to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, expanding regulatory coverage while keeping a key restriction: standard petrol cars are not made compatible. Officials said fuel above E20 and up to E100 is intended only for vehicles specifically designed and certified for it, and vehicles using E20 or regular fuel cannot use E85 or E100. The ministry also raised the relevant light vehicle weight limit to 3,500 kg from 3,000 kg. Maruti Suzuki recently launched the Wagon R Flex Fuel for blends from E20 to E100.