E85 would be about ₹20/litre cheaper than E20: Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri

E85 fuel, that is, fuel containing 80-85% ethanol and 15-20% motor gasoline, would be approximately ₹20 per litre cheaper than the E20 variant of fuel, stated Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri at the launch of the latest fuel variant here Friday.

“I think we have consciously structured the pricing to ensure consumers are more than adequately compensated – for any lack in calorific value or anything – by making E85 approximately ₹20 per litre cheaper than E20,” he said.

At the time of writing, the E85 variant in Delhi was priced at ₹82.12 per litre.

In his address, Mr. Puri also clarified that the E85-blended fuel is meant exclusively for specially-designed flex fuel vehicles with compatible engines and not the current regular petrol vehicles.

“E85 fuel is meant exclusively for specially-designed flex fuel vehicles equipped with compatible engines, [further] transition to E85-capable vehicles would be guided by rigorous testing guided by automobile manufacturers,” he said.

Speaking to reporters outside, Mr. Puri mentioned that the government would also seek to ensure E85-compliant vehicles carry a separate distinguishable number plate.

The Union Petroleum Minister mentioned that he expected about 50 to 100 retail outlets in the country to be selling the E85 variant “within a few weeks”.

He added, “I hope within a few weeks, we will have 50 to 100 E85 dispensing stations available in different parts of India – [that is,] the NCR region and the Pune-Mumbai-Nagpur belt.”

Mr. Puri mentioned this would scale up to 500 outlets by the end of the ongoing calendar year and approximately 5,000 outlets by the end of 2027.