The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has also suggested some important changes to vehicle emission standards to encourage increased ethanol content and other alternative fuels, which would be a major step in the direction of cleaner mobility. On April 27, the draft amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, were announced, and they are under public consultation.
The suggested revisions would open up the scope of the approved fuels, which currently are limited to E10 and E20 mixtures, to comprise E85 (85% ethanol), E100 (near-pure ethanol), B100 biodiesel, and hydrogen-CNG mixtures. When applied, the new regulations will enable flex-fuel and pure biofuel vehicles in all groups such as two-wheelers and three-wheelers, passenger cars, and heavy commercial vehicles.
Flex-fuel cars can operate on different blends of petrol and ethanol, between E20 and E100, and the onboard controls vary engine settings. Nonetheless, increased use of ethanol necessitates some adjustments, including the use of non-corrosible fuel lines and re-calibrated engines.
With a renewable source that can be prepared with plant oils, animal fats, or used cooking oil, B100 biodiesel is a renewable source that can substitute a full concentration of diesel engine usage, although engine modifications might be necessary. Another cleaner-burning fuel option that uses the existing infrastructure is hydrogen-CNG blends that are mixtures of compressed natural gas and hydrogen.
This move is also in line with the overall objectives of India to cut down its carbon emission, decrease oil imports, and increase its production of biofuels in the country. Flex-fuel systems have already shown to be successful in countries such as Brazil, where lifecycle emissions have been reduced significantly.
Based on the feedback of the 30-day consultation, the government will review it and then finalise the policy.