India launches E85 fuel to boost ethanol blending

New Delhi (ANTARA) - India launched E85 fuel on Friday (5/6) as a push for ethanol blending. India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, inaugurated the country’s first E85 filling station at the Indian Oil Pusa Road outlet in New Delhi, marking the start of the commercial rollout of this high-ethanol fuel. The ethanol blending rate in fuel has increased from 1.53 per cent in 2014 to 20 per cent currently, reaching the target five years ahead of schedule, according to officials. According to the ministry, E85 is a high-ethanol blend consisting of 80-85 per cent ethanol and 14-19 per cent petrol, specifically designed for use in flex-fuel vehicles (FFV). The ministry stated that the initiative aims to encourage the adoption of FFVs, which are capable of operating using ethanol blends ranging from E20 to E100 without restricting consumers to a single type of fuel blend.