Recently, fuel cheaper by Rs 20 than petrol was launched

 

E85 Ethanol

Recently, fuel cheaper by Rs 20 than petrol was launched

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Friends, 'E85 fuel' containing 85% ethanol blend has been officially launched in Delhi. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated Delhi's first E85 fuel dispensing station at Indian Oil's Pusa Road outlet.

The special thing is that it is cheaper by Rs 20 per liter than petrol. This will not only reduce the cost of driving for the common man, but will also reduce the country's dependence on crude oil imports.

The price of E85 fuel in Delhi has been fixed at Rs 82.12 per liter. This is a full Rs 20 less than the regular E20 petrol sold in Delhi. To avoid any confusion among the customers at the petrol pump, special branding and a separate and clearly visible label will be put on the machines dispensing E85 fuel.

This station opened on Delhi's Pusa Road is the first pump in the country, but the government's plan is to take it to a much larger scale. In the initial phase, the government will set up about 50 to 100 such E85 fuel stations in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai-Pune-Nagpur corridor.

According to this plan, the network of such stations is to be increased to about 5000 outlets in the country by the end of this year. The government has also recently notified fuel standards with higher ethanol blends like E22, E25, E27 and E30.

What is special about this E85 flex fuel?

The petrol that is currently available at fuel stations across the country, i.e., it contains 20% ethanol and 80% petrol. In contrast, the new E85 fuel contains up to 85% ethanol and 15% petrol. The government wants to move towards flex fuels like E100 i.e. 100% ethanol, so that the import of crude oil can be reduced.

What is this ethanol made from?

This ethanol is made from agricultural products like sugarcane juice, corn and rotten grains, hence its price is low. This is the reason why it will prove to be very affordable for consumers, if they have vehicles that support this fuel. This fuel also helps in reducing carbon emissions in the environment.

In which vehicles can this E85 flex fuel be used?

This E85 fuel cannot be used in normal petrol vehicles. For this, the engine of the vehicles should be specifically based on 'flex-fuel' technology. Currently, flex fuel vehicles are not available in India.

1. Maruti Suzuki WagonR Flex Fuel: This is India's first passenger car, which is designed to run on blends up to E100, which is fully compatible with E85.

2. Hero Splendor+ and HF Deluxe: Hero Moto Corp has launched the country's first flex fuel motorcycles in the mass-market 100cc segment. These bikes can run on fuels ranging from E20 to E85 and will go on sale in Delhi and some areas of Maharashtra from July 2026.

 

Does ethanol blending pose a threat to food security?

This ethanol blending poses no threat to food security. In the USA, ethanol is mainly made from corn, in 2018 they produced about 14.9 billion tons of corn, but only one-third of it was used to make ethanol fuel.

Does ethanol damage the engine?

Ethanol blended fuel does not harm your car's engine. Major car manufacturers around the world have approved the use of ethanol blending. Ethanol is clean and efficient, so it extends the life of the engine. That is why many Indian automakers are making flex fuel vehicles. The use of this ethanol-blended fuel improves air quality by reducing the amount of particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and other toxic pollutants.

 

What is ethanol?

Ethanol is a type of alcohol, which is made by the fermentation of starch and sugar. It is used as an eco-friendly fuel in vehicles by mixing it with petrol. Ethanol is produced primarily from sugarcane bagasse, but ethanol can also be produced from starchy materials such as corn, rotten potatoes, cassava, and rotten vegetables.

1. First Generation Ethanol: First generation ethanol is produced from sugarcane juice, beets, rotten potatoes, sweet sorghum, and corn.

1.       2. Second Generation Ethanol: Second generation ethanol is made from cellulose and lignocellulosic materials such as rice husk, wheat husk, coir, bamboo and woody biomass.

2.       3. Third Generation Ethanol: Third generation biofuel will be made from algae. Work is currently underway on it.