The Indian government has proposed changes to vehicle emission rules to widen the scope for higher ethanol blends and alternative fuels, paving the way for flex-fuel and pure biofuel vehicles across all categories.
The draft changes to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, cover fuels including E85, E100, B100 biodiesel, and hydrogen-CNG combinations.
The proposed amendment opens the regulatory door for flex-fuel and pure biofuel vehicles across all categories, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, passenger cars, and heavy vehicles.
The proposals are open for a 30-day public consultation, after which the government will take a final decision.
Flex-fuel vehicles are designed to run on any mixture of ethanol and petrol—from E20 to E100—with onboard sensors adjusting parameters automatically.
Automobile companies say they are prepared for the shift, with Toyota Kirloskar Motor stating they are ready to launch flex-fuel cars that emit far less carbon.
