Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has given the green light for the use of 100% ethanol fuel in a bid to lessen India’s reliance on imported fossil fuels. This decision is part of an effort to expedite the transition to alternative energy sources, as stated by Gadkari during a press conference in Nagpur commemorating 12 years of the NDA government. Gadkari revealed that he finalized the regulations to officially permit the use of 100% ethanol the previous night at 8 pm.
Ethanol is being considered as a feasible substitute for petrol, which could aid India in curbing its substantial fuel import expenditure. Initially faced with skepticism and criticism, Gadkari shared, “I used to talk about this dream, and people used to laugh. Some friends even used to criticise it.” He also mentioned that major automakers are gearing up to roll out ethanol-compatible vehicles in the upcoming weeks. Companies like Toyota, Suzuki, MG, and Hyundai are set to introduce 100% ethanol-compatible vehicles within the next month and a half.
Recently, the government introduced E85 fuel for E85-compatible flex-fuel vehicles. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Puri highlighted India’s achievements in ethanol blending, noting that the country has exceeded its blending targets well ahead of schedule. Puri mentioned, “From 2014 until now, we have increased ethanol blending from 1.5% to 10%, which was achieved in November 2022. Our goal was to reach 20% blending by 2030, but we accomplished it in 2024.” He further added that discussions are ongoing with various industry stakeholders, including the automobile association SIAM, regarding the introduction of E85 fuel exclusively for E85-compatible flex-fuel vehicles.
