E85 Fuel Now Available In Mumbai, But Most Cars Cannot Use It Yet

E85 Fuel Now Available In Mumbai At Rs 91.18 Liter: What Car Owners Need To Know

E85 fuel is now available in Mumbai at a price of Rs 91.18 per litre, making it more than Rs 20 cheaper than regular petrol, which currently costs Rs 111.33 per litre in the city. While the price is an attractive factor, there are certain aspects that you need to consider before using E85 fuel.

What is E85 Fuel?

E85 is a combination of fuels, consisting of 85% ethanol and 15% petrol. This mixture differs from E20 fuel, which is used by new cars in India.

Because it contains a high percentage of ethanol, it requires a special engine called a flex-fuel engine. These engines are specially designed with components that can handle high ethanol content. You cannot fill your regular petrol car with E85.

Is Your Car Suitable to Use E85?

Currently, E85 is compatible only with a limited number of models available in India. At present, the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R Flex Fuel is one of the few vehicles designed to run on E85. Therefore, for most owners of petrol-powered cars, E85 is not an option. Using E85 in a regular petrol vehicle may damage the engine and fuel system.

Why India Launches E85?

E85 introduction is a part of India's efforts to lower its dependence on foreign oil. Ethanol is produced in India from domestic crops (sugarcane and maize). Thus, increased usage of ethanol helps to:

• Spend Less Money: Reduce the amount of money needed to purchase foreign oil;

• Support Farmers: Increase demand for crops produced by Indian farmers;

• Develop Vehicles: Provide an incentive to create flex-fuel cars.

Several carmakers have already showcased prototype flex-fuel cars. With the availability of E85 at fuel pumps, they may start offering these cars in the market.

Catch: Fuel Economy

Though E85 is cheaper at the fuel pump, it does not mean that it will save you money. Ethanol has lower energy content than petrol. As a result, a car running on E85 will deliver lower mileage. You will need to use more E85 to travel the same distance than using petrol. This could offset some of the savings from the lower fuel price.

Air Quality Improvement and Standards

The Indian government is also putting the required standards in place for E85 fuel. IS 16634 standards for E85 fuel have been established by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

Moreover, the usage of E85 fuel is eco-friendly. It can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50%. Also, it will help to reduce emissions of particulate matter that causes air pollution in cities.

The goal of the Indian government is to increase the number of E85 fuel stations up to 5,000 by 2027. This means that though this fuel is relatively new now, it could become much more widely available in the coming years.

For now, E85 is a small start with a limited number of suitable models. But the launch of this fuel in Mumbai demonstrates that India is building the foundation for a future where more cars will operate on different kinds of fuels.