What is E85 Fuel? India's First E85 Fuel Pump Launched, Check Key Details

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, on 5 June 2026, inaugurated the first E85 fuel pump at an Indian Oil Corporation fuel station at Pusa Road, New Delhi, India, thereby marking a significant leap towards ethanol blending in India on the occasion of World Environment Day. Puri said around 500 ethanol fuel pumps are expected to be operational across India by the end of 2026, and about 5,000 pumps by 2027.

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विश्व पर्यावरण दिवस के अवसर पर माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी के स्वच्छ, हरित एवं ऊर्जा सुरक्षित भारत की विज़न से प्रेरणा लेकर आज दिल्ली में फ्लैक्स फ्यूल पर चलने वाले वाहनों के लिए दिल्ली के पेट्रोल पंप पर E85 ईंधन का ऐतिहासिक उद्घाटन… pic.twitter.com/ILJvASSYSg

— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) June 5, 2026

A day prior, on 4 June 2026, the Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri took to the social media platform X to announce the launch of Flex Fuel vehicles (FFVs) including Hero Motor Corp's Splendor+ and HF Deluxe Flex Fuel motorcycles and Wagon-R Flex. "These launches will provide momentum to India's Aatmanirbhar Ethanol Blending quest, which stood at a mere 1.5 per cent in 2014," he added. 

What is E85 Fuel?

E85 is a high-ethanol blend fuel containing 80 to 85 per cent ethanol and 15 to 20 per cent petrol. 

E85 offers cheaper, cleaner, and more combustion fuel alternative to petrol, resulting in a near-zero particulate matter emissions and restoring air quality.

E85 is an ethanol-blended fuel that is produced from renewable agricultural sources like maize, corn, and sugarcane.

E85 fuel is key in pushing the adoption to Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs), which are compatible with ethanol blends from E20 to E100.  

E85 fuel is different from E20 in their ethanol content. E20 contains 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol. E20 is compatible with standard petrol vehicles. 

What are Flex-Fuel Vehicles?

E85 fuel is not compatibale with regular petrol vehicles. Only Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) are engineered to operate on ethanol blended fuel ranging from E20 to E100.   

India's First E85-Compatible Car

Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R Flex is the first E85-compatible car in India. 

E85 Compatiable Motorcycles

In two wheelers, currently India has the newly launched Hero Splendor+ Flex Fuel and Hero HF Delux Flex Fuel motorcycles. 

E85 Fuel Price

E85 fuel has been priced at Rs 82.12 per litre. It costs Rs 20 per litre less than regular E20 petrol that most Indian vehicles currently use. The price has been set to counteract the low fuel economy.

So, while the E85 fuel offers higher octane rating (around 105 to 108) compared to petrol, which means high performance, however, due to low energy content, vehicles typically notice a drop in fuel economy which means you will have to frequently fill up the fuel tank.

What will happen to E20 fuel compatible vehicles?

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri answers the query regarding what will happen to E20 fuel compatible vehicles during the launch of E85 fuel. Watch the video below:

E85 ईंधन आ गया.......अब E20 अनुकूल गाड़ियों का क्या होगा?

E20 और E85 दो अलग-अलग श्रेणियों के ईंधन हैं, जो अलग-अलग प्रकार के वाहनों के लिए बनाए गए हैं। E85 के आने का मतलब यह बिल्कुल नहीं है कि E20 या पेट्रोल वाहन बंद हो जाएंगे।

E85 ईंधन सिर्फ और सिर्फ फ्लेक्स फ्यूल वाहन के लिए… pic.twitter.com/2Jtc2WRFS3

— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) June 6, 2026

Why is E85 fuel significant for India?

India is pushing ethanol-based fuels under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme to reduce India's dependence on fossil fuels, imported crude oil, and support India's energy security by promoting cleaner transportation alternatives. 

As ethanol-blend fuels are produced from agricultural feedstocks such as sugarcanes, corn, and biomass, thus implementation of E85 fuel also creates additional demand for agricultural produce, rural economic growth, and support farmer livelihoods.