Amidst the ongoing fuel shortage, nations have been exploring options to domesticate fuel availability in order to soften the impact. Dialogues around Ethanol echoed in the automative industry for the last couple of years. And finally, the government in 2026 notified the new E30 ethanol blending standards take would ease the load on the fuel economy.
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways- Nitin Gadkari, in an event teased the launch of a flex fuel car by Maruti Suzuki. The car will run on E100.
Gadkari interacting with the gathering an event expressing joy said, “Our biggest pollution problem is fossil fuels… petrol and diesel. That is why, as the Transport Minister, I am happy that we have introduced electric scooters, electric cars, electric buses, electric trucks, and now even electric tractors in the country. Not only this, but our farmers have now become energy providers and fuel providers for the nation.”
Gadkari sharing his personal experience about the car, said,”. I have been using this vehicle for the last one and a half years. Compared to petrol and diesel, the effective fuel cost comes to around Rs 25 per litre. This is an import substitute, cost-effective, pollution-free, and indigenous. Vehicles with such flex-fuel engines are going to be introduced on a large scale soon.”
Maruti Suzuki is all set to launch its first batch of commercial E100 vehicles on June 5this year at a program in New Delhi.
What is E100?
E100- is 100 percent ethanol. Yes, you are thinking it right. Ethanol will now replace Petrol as a fuel. E100 has a higher-octane rating, which allows better combustion efficiency. In India, E100 is promoted by the government as a broader move to reduce crude oil imports, cut emissions and support domestic agriculture.