As India's business segments remain uncertain amid the West Asia crisis, the energy sector is in need of attention.
Proposing an idea for the country to be self-reliant in terms of energy, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said that India should aspire to achieve 100 per cent ethanol blending in the near future.
The push for ethanol-mixed fuel has been evident, especially after the recent introduction of E20 petrol. However, with a large number of regular petrol vehicles and a high reliance on fossil fuels, this aspiration is a long way away for India.
Speaking at the Indian Federation of Green Energy’s Green Conclave, Gadkari said:
“In the near future, India should aspire to achieve 100 per cent ethanol blending. Today, we are facing an energy crisis due to the war in West Asia, so it is necessary for us to become self-reliant in the energy sector.”
The case of Brazil’s biofuel strategy has been repeatedly cited as a template for India to follow. However, the Brazilian government has been mandating ethanol-mixed fuel since the 1970’s, also pushing automobile companies to make flex-fuel vehicles.
90 per cent of vehicles in Brazil are flex-fuel, which can use either hydrous ethanol, pure petrol, or a mix of both. The current ethanol-petrol blends in Brazil contain only 25-27 per cent ethanol.
Though ethanol-blended fuel is good in terms of emissions and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, the implementation might pose difficulties.
According to Nayara Energy, an Indo-Russian oil company, the current E20 petrol blend consists of 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol—a level that most vehicles made after 2023 are compatible with.
As for post-2001 vehicles, E10 petrol is a better option, comprising 10 per cent ethanol and 90 per cent petrol, as E20 can cause a 5-15 per cent drop in mileage here.
In the case of the 100 per cent blending that India wishes to achieve, even flex-fuel cars in the Indian market are not yet compatible.
In fact, the Toyota’s Innova Hycross Flex-Fuel Hybrid is the only flex-fuel car readily available in the market, and is still only designed to handle an 85 per cent blend of ethanol and petrol.
However, this car is premium-priced, ranging from Rs 18.70 lakh to Rs 31.84 lakh (ex-showroom), which is beyond the affordable range for many Indians. According to the Vahan portal, only eight flex-fuel four-wheelers have been purchased across India in 2025, showcasing that it’s not yet a popular option.
While Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, and Mahindra have unveiled prototypes of flex-fuel vehicles, they are not yet readily available in the market. The Tata Punch Flex Fuel, yet to be launched, is expected to be affordable, with ex-showroom prices ranging from Rs 5.65 lakh to Rs 10.60 lakh.
So, while Brazil’s alternative fuel strategy offers a compelling template, without alternative options, affordable prices, and flex-fuel cars, aiming for 100 per cent ethanol blending risks remaining a pipe dream for India.