E85 Fuel Is Here, But You Don't Have To Worry About It Right Now
A lot of people have become extremely worried after the launch of the E85 fuel pump in Delhi. Recently, the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India inaugurated the first E85 dispensing pump in Delhi, and people are now wondering if there is any vehicle in the country that will be capable of running on this fuel. Also, people are worried because they are assuming that with E85 being rolled out, they will no longer be getting E20 fuel. Well, if you are also someone who thinks the same way, then you are at the right place.
First off, let's talk about the safety of your vehicle. Currently, if you own a standard petrol car or motorcycle, there is absolutely no reason for you to panic. The government has clarified that even with E85 being offered at fuel pumps, E20 petrol will still be offered across the country, and currently there are no plans to discontinue it.
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri has also recently stated that E20 vehicles will continue to run for a long time. He also highlighted that E20 and E85 belong to two completely different categories of fuels and are designed for different types of vehicles.
Puri, during the launch ceremony of E85, also stated that the new fuel is exclusively meant for flex-fuel vehicles and not for regular E20-compatible vehicles. As per the minister, fuel stations that will be dispensing E85 will also have clear signage that will inform customers that this fuel should only be used in E85-compatible vehicles.
One of the most interesting aspects of the E85 rollout is that India currently has no mass-produced four-wheeler that can support E85 fuel. Presently, there are no mainstream mass-market flex-fuel passenger cars available for sale in India. As a result, most people cannot use E85 even if a fuel station opens next to their home.
It will take several years for E85 fuel and E85 compatible cars to start selling in significant numbers. So you are safe till every car manufacturer produces E85 cars. That will take time. Car makers cannot suddenly make E85 cars alone - they will have to continue making E20-compatible cars and E85 cars for years, and slowly increase production of E85 cars. Think about it like CNG replacing petrol - it hasn't happened, right?
At the moment, there are only two motorcycles in India that can safely run on E85 fuel. These are the newly launched Hero MotoCorp motorcycles, namely the Splendor Flex Fuel, launched at Rs 82,810, and the HF Deluxe Flex Fuel, which has been priced at Rs 72,792.
Both of these bikes are being offered with a 97.2cc single-cylinder engine. This motor is capable of producing 8.57 PS and 8.3 Nm of torque. To make these bikes capable of running higher ethanol blends, they are being offered with a dedicated fuel pump, which has been designed specifically for ethanol-rich fuels.
They also feature a secondary fuel filter to ensure proper filtration and reliability. In addition to this, Hero has recalibrated the engine control unit, or ECU, to manage varying ethanol concentrations and maintain performance.
Apart from these bikes, Maruti Suzuki India also recently showcased the WagonR Flex Fuel in India. This car is being offered with the same 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine as the outgoing model. However, it has been given new injectors, heated fuel rails, and a different fuel pump. It also gets an ethanol sensor, which helps the ECU with data on the actual blend of the ethanol fuel being used. The ECU will use this data to adjust the combustion characteristics of the engine.
Also, Toyota, a little while ago, showcased the flex-fuel version of the Innova Hycross Hybrid in India. Tata Motors last year also showcased the flex-fuel-capable Punch micro-SUV. However, it has to be highlighted that none of these cars are currently available for sale in India. This means that, at the moment, no four-wheeler in India can actually use E85 fuel.
So, for this reason, the Government of India is still continuing to offer E20 fuel. Basically, E85 is the fuel of the future, which has been launched at the moment to make sure that automakers start producing more flex-fuel-capable vehicles in India. At the moment, current car owners should not worry about the rollout of E85.
As the name suggests, E85 fuel is a blend that comprises approximately 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent petrol. Ethanol, as we all know, is an alcohol-based renewable fuel that is primarily produced from sugarcane, maize, corn, and agricultural waste. So, unlike conventional petrol, ethanol can be produced domestically within India.
This means that it reduces India's dependence on imported crude oil and helps save foreign exchange reserves. Currently, E20 petrol has become the standard fuel available across India. This fuel contains 20 percent ethanol and 80 percent petrol. E85 takes this concept further by increasing the ethanol content to 85 percent.
What makes the launch even more interesting is the pricing of the new fuel. The Government of India has launched E85 at Rs 82.12 per litre. In comparison, standard E20 petrol is currently priced at Rs 102.12 per litre. This means E85 is cheaper by approximately Rs 20 per litre. According to the government, this pricing advantage has been intentionally introduced to encourage the adoption of flex-fuel vehicles in the future.
Now, we have to mention that E20 has already been known to cause corrosion in the fuel systems of non-compliant cars. We know that E85 will be even more dangerous for cars that are on sale today. However, the government also knows that E85 can damage current vehicles. For this reason, E85 has not been made the standard fuel available, so currently there is no reason for the public to worry.