A fuel blend called E85 contains about 85% ethanol and 15% petrol. E85 is different from regular gas because it is only made for flex-fuel cars that are designed to handle different amounts of ethanol. These cars have engines, fuel systems, and electrical controls that were carefully made to work well with different blends of gas and ethanol.
With the release of E85, India hopes to bolster its ethanol blending program and promote the use of domestically produced fuel. Because ethanol is primarily produced from agricultural materials, it is a key part of the government’s plan to improve energy security and support farms.
E85 is supposed to make transportation better and less reliant on fossil fuels imported from other countries. But drivers should know that regular gas cars don’t work with E85 and shouldn’t be refuelled with it.
Currently Available Vehicles That Can Use E85
At the moment, Indian customers can only choose from three types of cars that can run on E85 fuel:
The Hero Splendour+ Flex Fuel and the Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel are all made by Maruti Suzuki.
India’s flex-fuel car market is still in its early stages, as evidenced by the limited number of options. More companies are likely to make goods that work with these in the future, but for now, these are the only types released that are designed to work with high ethanol blends.
The Maruti Suzuki WagonR Flex Fuel is the best selling passenger car in its class
According to reports, Maruti Suzuki is the first car company in India to produce a flex-fuel car capable of running on high ethanol blends. The WagonR Flex Fuel was designed to run on fuel blends ranging from E20 to E100. This means that it can also use E85 fuel.
The car has high tech engine control systems that can adjust instantly to different ethanol levels. This ensures that performance, fuel supply, and engine operation remain the same regardless of the blend used.
Maruti Suzuki has shown off the flex-fuel WagonR as part of a broader plan to explore a range of green transportation technologies. The company believes that ethanol-powered cars are one way to reduce pollution and make the country more energy independent.
The car has received a lot of attention, but the company hasn’t confirmed a release date or provided final pricing. Still, the WagonR Flex Fuel is the only passenger car in India confirmed to run on E85 fuel.
Read also: Maruti Suzuki Unveils India’s First Flex-Fuel Passenger Car
Hero Splendour+ Flex Fuel gets more 2 wheelers to use ethanol
Hero MotoCorp has released the Splendour+ Flex Fuel, one of the first bikes in India to run on E85 fuel. This motorbike has a 97.2cc engine that can run on fuel blends from E20 to E85.
The motorbike produces 6.3 kW of power at 8,000 rpm and 8.3 Nm of torque at 6,000 rpm when running on E85. To support the higher ethanol level, Hero MotoCorp has changed the fuel system and adjusted the engine control to accommodate it.
The bike also has some modern features, like the company’s i3S idle stop start technology, tubeless tires, a digital analogue instrument panel, and an engine cut off function for the side stand. These changes ensure that the motorbike remains useful in its usual ways while also supporting alternative fuel technology.
The Splendour+ Flex Fuel, which costs 82,710, is meant to be an easy to afford choice for users who want to switch to ethanol based transportation.
Read also: Hero Brings Flex-Fuel Technology to Its Bestselling Motorcycle
Another option is the Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fuel, which is more affordable
Hero MotoCorp has also showcased the HF Deluxe Flex Fuel alongside the Splendour+. The bike has the same 97.2 cc engine base and can run on fuel blends ranging from E20 to E85.
When using E85 fuel, the bike still has the same performance numbers: 6.3 kW of power and 8.3 Nm of torque. Hero made sure the motorbike would work reliably by adding parts that can handle fuel and making changes to the software.
The HF Deluxe Flex Fuel also has flat tires, a digital analog indicator panel, and an engine cut off system for the side stand. The cheapest E85 compatible car in India right now is this one, which costs ₹72,792 when bought from a store in Delhi.
Hero MotoCorp will start selling both types of flex fuel bikes in Delhi and parts of Maharashtra in July 2026. As fuel infrastructure improves, more fuel should become available over time. As India continues to push for ethanol powered transportation, more flex-fuel cars are expected to hit the market. This will give customers more options in the years to come.
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