English
English
English
Representational Image
New Delhi: The government has cleared the regulatory framework required for vehicles running on 100 percent ethanol. Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari informed that he had approved the rules providing legal sanction for the operation of ethanol run vehicles.
It comes after draft amendments were circulated earlier this year to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 for bringing in recognition of higher levels of ethanol blends like E85 and E100 under motor vehicle test and certification norms.
E100 means a blend of pure ethanol or close to it. This includes fuel prepared primarily using ethanol derived from sources like sugarcane, maize and many others. Presently, petrol available in India is blended with up to 20 percent ethanol as part of the E20 program.
It would appear that the new set of rules do not imply that conventional petrol-run cars can be used to run E100. The vehicles should be specially built, designed or certified to run on a higher percentage of ethanol fuel.
India relies largely on its imports for crude oil. Ethanol could help the country reduce its dependence on imported fuel, while creating a market for domestic biofuel. Officials have also been associating this move with diversification of transport fuel and promoting clean energy.
The government has stepped up its efforts in supporting higher blends of ethanol. Apart from standards for fuels that go beyond E20, the authorities have come out with tax measures intended to promote higher usage of ethanol-blended petrol.
According to experts, there are two elements that would play a decisive role in the successful implementation of E100 run cars: availability of ethanol fuel at fueling stations and the launching of specially designed vehicles. There are some manufacturers who have even announced their intention to bring out vehicles for E100 fuel.
