Earlier this year, the E85 blended petrol was launched in Delhi, and now the biofuel is officially available for sale in Mumbai at Rs 91.18 per litre. Similar to Delhi, the price difference between the E20 and E85 in Mumbai is approximately Rs 20 per litre, with the former currently priced at Rs 111.21/litre.
A price difference of just Rs 20 is not very significant, as the lower energy density of ethanol compared to petrol can reduce the fuel efficiency of E85 vehicles by about 20-35% compared to their E20 counterparts.
E85 Fuel Price In Mumbai vs Delhi
The E85 fuel is priced at Rs 81.12 per litre in the national capital. That’s Rs 9.06 per litre more affordable than in Mumbai. This price difference is mainly due to varying taxation across the states, along with logistics charges. However, it is worth noting that the government of India has recently levied excise duty on the higher ethanol blended fuels beyond E20.
Fun Fact: India is among the top 3 ethanol producers in the world, after the US and Brazil
Is E85 Fuel Compatible With Every Vehicle?
No, E85 fuel is not for every vehicle. It can be used only in flex-fuel vehicles, which are designed to handle high ethanol content and different combustion properties. Putting it in a regular car or 2-wheeler can damage their engine.
As of now, flex-fuel versions of Hero Splendor+ and HF Deluxe motorcycles are on sale in the country. In the passenger vehicle category, Maruti Suzuki has recently launched the Wagon R Bioflex, which is currently restricted to fleet operators.
Not So Fun Fact: Ethanol production is water-intensive — producing 1 litre of ethanol can require around 2,500 to 3,500 litres of water, especially when derived from sugarcane, which itself is a highly water-consuming crop
E85 Network To Expand Rapidly In The Near Future
As reported earlier, the government of India has plans to establish 5,000 E85 dispensing stations across the country by the end of 2027. Of these, 50-100 E85 pumps will be set up along the Delhi-NCR and the Mumbai-Pune-Nagpur corridor by the end of 2026.
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