Hyderabad, April 22: E85 fuel India plan is gaining traction as the Centre prepares to introduce ethanol based fuel as an alternative to petrol.
Officials said the government is working on a new fuel policy. Moreover, draft regulations for E85 fuel India plan may be issued soon.
E85 Fuel India Plan To Replace Petrol Gradually
The proposed fuel will contain 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent petrol. Therefore, it will differ significantly from the current E20 blend.
At present, E20 fuel contains up to 20 percent ethanol. However, the government now aims to move toward higher ethanol usage.
The plan follows global fuel supply concerns linked to West Asia tensions. Consequently, India is focusing on reducing dependence on crude oil imports.
India currently imports about 90 percent of its oil needs. If implemented, the E85 fuel India plan may cut imports by over 80 percent.
Officials said preliminary tests for ethanol fuel have already been conducted. However, vehicles will require modifications to support this fuel.
E85 will be used mainly in flex fuel vehicles. These vehicles are designed to handle higher ethanol content safely.
Additionally, fuel stations will need infrastructure upgrades. Special storage systems and dedicated pumps must be installed nationwide.
The plan was first proposed in 2016. Now, authorities expect rollout within the next two years.
Experts say ethanol is renewable and burns cleaner than petrol. Therefore, the shift may support both energy security and environmental goals.
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