On World Environment Day 2026, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri introduced E85 fuel at an IndianOil outlet in New Delhi. This marks the beginning of the nationwide rollout of the high-ethanol blended fuel for flex-fuel vehicles. Initially, E85 fuel is accessible at 48 retail outlets managed by public sector oil marketing companies.
The government’s plan includes expanding the availability of E85 fuel to 500 retail outlets by December 2026 and to around 5,000 outlets by December 2027. This initiative aims to elevate India’s ethanol blending level to nearly 26 percent by 2030-31. E85 fuel is a high-ethanol blend consisting of 80-85 percent ethanol and 14-19 percent petrol, tailored for flex-fuel vehicles that can run on various ethanol blends from E20 to E100.
During the event, Minister Puri highlighted India’s achievement in balancing energy availability, affordability, and sustainability. He emphasized the country’s progress in ethanol blending, which has surpassed the target ahead of schedule. Puri acknowledged Indian farmers for their role in transitioning from food providers to energy providers through domestic ethanol production.
Positioned as a cost-effective alternative to traditional fuels, E85 is priced nearly Rs 20 per liter lower than petrol. This move is expected to offer economic benefits to consumers through domestically produced ethanol. Minister Puri described the launch as a significant step towards a greener and more sustainable future, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision. He emphasized the potential of E85 fuel to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 61 percent compared to petrol.
