E85 fuel is now available in Mumbai! Price differences with Delhi, key details

Mumbai has joined Delhi in the list of cities offering E85 fuel. The high-ethanol blend is currently priced at Rs 91.18 per liter in the city, nearly Rs 9 more expensive than in Delhi, where E85 is currently sold at a lower price. E85 is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. It targets flex-fuel vehicles specifically designed to run on high-ethanol blends. The fuel is also much cheaper than the E20 gasoline currently sold nationwide. In Mumbai, E20 petrol is priced at Rs 111.33 per liter, which means motorists with compatible vehicles can save over Rs 20 per liter by opting for E85. The launch of E85 is part of the government’s wider strategy to reduce crude oil imports, support domestic ethanol production and lower tailpipe emissions. Ethanol is produced primarily from agricultural feedstocks such as sugar cane and corn, making it a renewable alternative to traditional fossil fuels.However, the biggest challenge remains vehicle compatibility. Currently, only a few models sold in India can run E85. Maruti Suzuki The WagonR Bioflex was recently launched, making it the country’s first flex-fuel passenger vehicle. The hatchback is priced at Rs 7.24 lakh ex-showroom and is powered by a 1.2-litre four-cylinder K12N petrol engine that can run on ethanol blends starting from E20 all the way up to E100. In the two-wheeler segment, Hero MotoCorp has launched Splendor+ Flex Fuel and HF Deluxe Flex Fuel. Both motorcycles can run on E85 fuel. Suzuki also sells a flex-fuel compatible version of the Gixxer SF 250 in India.