Petrol Cars May Soon Run On E85 Fuel With New Ethanol Conversion Kit

New ethanol kit may help existing petrol cars run on E85 and E100 fuel without buying a new vehicle.

People who own petrol cars in India may soon get a new way to use ethanol fuel without buying a new flex-fuel vehicle. A special conversion kit is currently being tested, and if everything goes well, it could allow many existing petrol cars to run on fuels like E85 and E100. The idea comes as India is increasing the use of ethanol fuel to reduce petrol imports and lower pollution levels.

ISMA And IIT Delhi Working On The Project

The project is being led by the Indian Sugar and Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) along with IIT Delhi. The team is testing a conversion kit that was brought from another country. They want to see whether regular petrol cars can safely run on fuel that contains a much higher percentage of ethanol.

Maruti Swift Dzire Chosen For Testing

For the tests, the team selected a BS4 Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire. After fitting the conversion kit, the car was driven using E20, E85 and E100 fuel.

During the testing period, the vehicle covered around 5,000 to 10,000 kilometres. According to the researchers, the car completed the tests without any major engine trouble or breakdowns.

Based on the results so far, ISMA believes the same technology could also be used on many BS4 and BS6 petrol vehicles already running on Indian roads.

How Much Will The Kit Cost?

The conversion kit is still under evaluation, so it is not available for public use yet. However, if it receives all the required approvals, local production could begin in the future. According to industry representatives, the kit could cost around Rs 15,000 if it is manufactured in India.

The final amount may be slightly higher after adding installation charges, certification costs and any extra parts that may be needed during the conversion process.

What Does The Conversion Kit Do?

Ethanol fuel is different from normal petrol, so some changes are needed before a car can use it properly. The kit includes ethanol sensors, updated engine software, revised fuel injection settings, a cold-start system and fuel pipes that can handle ethanol fuel.

Together, these parts help the engine run smoothly on high-ethanol fuel without affecting normal operation.

More Petrol Pumps To Get E85 Fuel

E85 fuel is already being sold at selected fuel stations in India. Right now, it is available at 48 petrol pumps across the country.

The government plans to increase that number in the coming months. The target is to make E85 available at 500 petrol pumps by December 2026 and 5,000 pumps by the end of 2027.

Will It Help Drivers Save Money?

One of the main reasons people are interested in E85 fuel is its lower price. At present, it costs around Rs 20 per litre less than regular petrol.

However, ethanol usually delivers lower mileage than petrol. Because of that, the actual savings will depend on how much the vehicle is driven and how efficiently it uses fuel.

If the conversion kit gets approval and reaches the market, existing petrol car owners could get a cheaper way to switch to ethanol fuel without replacing their vehicle.