Oil imports have a big impact on the economy of India. Any developments that reduce this dependence on imports are bound to be big news. The exciting news is that we can now run cars on fuel that is a mixture of petrol and a whopping 85–100% of ethanol (ethyl alcohol).
Brazil already runs cars with 100% ethanol. And now Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) (cars and motorcycles) will soon be running on Indian roads. E85 is the name given to the fuel with 85% ethanol and 15% petrol. That’s a tremendous saving on petrol, and a big boost for the Indian farmer who can grow sugarcane etc., and produce ethanol by a simple fermentation process, followed by distillation.
It was interesting to learn that the internal combustion engine that runs the car did not have to be redesigned from scratch. It is an adaptation of conventional petrol engines. Manufacturers modify the existing design to handle ethanol’s different combustion characteristics (lower energy density, higher oxygen content, and different vaporization behaviour). So, while the core architecture remains similar, the fuel system and calibration are newly engineered for flexibility and durability. Here are some more details:
Modified fuel system: FFVs have fuel lines, injectors, seals, and gaskets made from materials resistant to ethanol’s corrosive properties.
Adaptive engine control unit (ECU): The ECU automatically adjusts ignition timing, air–fuel ratios, fuel injection, compression, and sensors, depending on the ethanol content in the fuel.
Dual-fuel capability: These engines can run on pure petrol, E20, E85, or any blend in between — no manual switching required.
In India, automakers like Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, and Bajaj have begun developing FFVs for the Indian market, aligning with the government’s ethanol-blending goals.
Ethanol has less energy density than petrol. Vehicles on E85 give lower mileage. Actual savings depend on your car’s efficiency.
Impact: Reduces crude oil imports, boosts sugarcane/ethanol production, higher farmer income, lower emissions. A boon for tackling traffic pollution, particularly in big cities.
Important: Only FFVs can use this fuel. Your current petrol car is not compatible.
As of June 2026, here’s what’s actually on sale in Delhi that can run on E85:
Cars
1. Maruti Suzuki WagonR Bioflex - India’s first flex-fuel car
2. Price: ₹7.24 lakh ex-showroom
3. Engine: 1.2L K12N petrol, modified with new injectors, fuel pump, fuel lines, ethanol sensor, ECU
4. Fuel: Runs on E20 to E100, homologated for E85
5. Catch: ₹86,000 costlier than regular WagonR ZXi+ MT
6. Availability: Currently for commercial/taxi/fleet use only. Private sales haven’t started yet.
Toyota: Minister Hardeep Puri said “Toyota is one of the best-selling vehicles to be operated on E85”. Toyota showed an Innova Hycross FFV prototype earlier, but no confirmed retail launch with price yet.
Others coming soon: Minister Nitin Gadkari said Suzuki, MG, and Hyundai will launch 100% ethanol-compatible vehicles within the next month and a half.
Bikes
Hero MotoCorp Splendour+ Flex Fuel: ₹82,710 ex-showroom Delhi
Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel: ₹72,792 ex-showroom Delhi
Both run on E20 to E85.
Unlike methyl alcohol which is poisonous, ethyl alcohol is the stuff that makes your drink intoxicating but not poisonous. Desperate drunkards do not spare even cough syrup for its alcohol content. What if they try to find ways to extract the ethyl alcohol from E85?! Perhaps adding a little methyl alcohol will deter them.
