The government has now allowed E100 fuel for flex fuel vehicles in India. E100 is almost pure ethanol. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has changed the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 to add E100 next to E85. The new rules came into force once they were published in the official Gazette on 26 October 2026.
This is a big step for India's ethanol plan. But it does not mean you can fill E100 in your normal petrol car. Here is what changed, which cars can use it and what it means for you.
What is the new E100 rule?
MoRTH issued the notification G.S.R. 911(E) on 23 October 2026. It was published in the Gazette on 26 October 2026. It is called the Central Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 2026.
The main change is in Rule 115. This rule sets the emission tests for vehicles. Before this, the fuel tables only listed E85 for flex fuel vehicles. Now they say "E85 or E100". The rules also add a clear note. It says E85 or E100 shall be used in vehicles that the maker has designed as flex fuel vehicles.
The ministry had first shared a draft of these rules on 27 April 2026. It asked people for their views. After looking at the replies, it has now made the rules final.
What else has changed in the rules?
The notification has a few more changes. The biodiesel entry in one table now says B100 in place of B10. B100 means pure biodiesel. The petrol entry now reads E10 or E20. One table heading for vehicle weight goes up from 3,000 kg to 3,500 kg. The test rules for E100 vehicles now point to a new Annexure SA.
Most of these are technical changes. They matter more to carmakers and test agencies than to buyers.
Can I use E100 in my petrol car?
No. This is the most important point. E100 and E85 are only for vehicles that the company has built as flex fuel models. Your normal petrol car is made for E20 at most. Pure ethanol can harm the fuel pump, pipes and seals in a car that is not built for it.
A flex fuel car has special parts. It has stronger fuel lines, better injectors and pumps, a tuned engine computer and an ethanol sensor. The sensor checks how much ethanol is in the tank and the engine adjusts by itself.
Which flex fuel cars are on sale in India?
Right now the main one is the Maruti Wagon R Bioflex. Maruti Suzuki launched it on 4 June 2026 as India's first flex fuel car. Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Hardeep Singh Puri were at the launch.
Maruti says the car can run on any blend from E20 to E100. But it was certified on E85. That is because the old rules only defined flex fuel as E20 to E85. The new rules fix this gap. So cars like the Wagon R Bioflex can now be tested and approved for E100 too.
| Detail | Maruti Wagon R Bioflex |
|---|---|
| Price (ex-showroom) | Rs 7.24 lakh |
| Engine | 1.2 litre, 4 cylinder petrol (K12N) |
| Power and torque | 91 hp and 114 Nm |
| Gearbox | 5 speed manual |
| Fuel it can use | E20 to E100 (certified on E85) |
| Price over normal ZXi+ MT | About Rs 86,000 more |
| Mileage on E85 | Not announced |
Other carmakers are working on flex fuel models too. Toyota has shown flex fuel technology in India before. You can read our story on the Innova Hycross and E100 ethanol plans. New flex fuel launches after this rule change are expected, but no company has shared dates yet.
Where can I buy E85 or E100 fuel?
This is the weak spot today. Oil companies began selling E85 at 48 public sector fuel pumps in June 2026. The Petroleum Ministry plans to take this to 500 pumps by December 2026. The goal is about 5,000 pumps by December 2027.
There is no public news yet on E100 pumps for cars. So for now, E100 for cars is more of a future plan. The rule is ready first, and the fuel network is expected to follow.
Will ethanol fuel save money?
Not always. Ethanol has less energy than petrol. So a car goes fewer kilometres on one litre. In a test by Autocar India on a Suzuki Gixxer SF 250 bike, E85 gave about 24 percent lower mileage than E20. In June, E85 cost about Rs 82 per litre in Delhi. That was only about 20 percent cheaper than E20 petrol.
So the savings are small or even nil today. Experts say high ethanol fuel needs to be much cheaper than petrol to make sense for buyers. The real gains are for the country. India can import less crude oil, and farmers can earn more from crops like sugarcane.
Will normal petrol get more ethanol?
Not for now. E20 is the base petrol across India today. In July 2026, the Petroleum Ministry said it had not taken any decision to raise the blend beyond 20 percent. This new rule only covers flex fuel vehicles. It does not change the petrol at your local pump.
You may also like to read about the new fuel efficiency rules for cars in India and the BS7 draft rules for new cars.
Frequently asked questions
What is E100 fuel?
E100 is fuel that is almost fully ethanol. Ethanol in India is mostly made from sugarcane and grains.
Is E100 allowed in India now?
Yes. From 26 October 2026, the motor vehicle rules list E100 as a fuel for flex fuel vehicles. It is only for vehicles that the maker has built as flex fuel models.
Can I put E100 or E85 in my normal petrol car?
No. Normal petrol cars are built for E20 at most. Higher ethanol can damage parts in a car that is not designed for it.
Which is the first flex fuel car in India?
The Maruti Wagon R Bioflex. It was launched on 4 June 2026 and costs Rs 7.24 lakh (ex-showroom).
Does ethanol fuel give lower mileage?
Yes. Ethanol has less energy than petrol, so mileage drops. One test found E85 gave about 24 percent lower mileage than E20.
Where can I find E100 fuel pumps?
E100 pumps for cars are not announced yet. E85 is sold at a small number of pumps, and the plan is to reach 500 pumps by December 2026.
