Government Updates Motor Vehicle Rules to Enable Use of 100% Ethanol in Flex-Fuel Vehicles

The Indian government has amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to allow flex-fuel vehicles to run on 100% ethanol (E100). These changes are designed to accommodate vehicles built for higher ethanol blends while ensuring that conventional petrol vehicles are not used with fuels they were not built to run on. The amendments modify Rule 115 and Rule 115E, which govern emission standards and related requirements for motor vehicles. The move aims to integrate ethanol-based fuels into the transportation sector, reducing dependency on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Key facts

• The government amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to allow flex-fuel vehicles to run on 100% ethanol (E100).
• The amendments modify Rule 115 and Rule 115E, which govern emission standards and related requirements for motor vehicles.
• Ethanol blends above E20 (20% ethanol-blended petrol) and up to E100 are exclusively for vehicles specifically designed and certified for such fuels.
• The weight limit for light petrol and diesel vehicles covered under these changes has been increased from 3,000 kg to 3,500 kg.

Sources

• WION