SC Questions Ethanol Supply For E100 Vehicles

The observation came days after the road transport ministry amended the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to include flex-fuel vehicles capable of running on E100, or nearly pure ethanol.

A bench of Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Prasanna B. Varale raised the issue while hearing petitions concerning ethanol allocation for the Ethanol Supply Year 2025-26.

Referring to recent media reports, the bench observed, “Day before yesterday, we saw some newspaper reports wherein it is stated that 100 per cent ethanol driven vehicles are permitted.”

“Academically, we want to know if the permission is given to have 100 percent ethanol run vehicles, how will you make the supply,” the bench asked.

Attorney General R. Venkataramani responded that ensuring such supplies would require “large scale manufacturing re-arrangements”.

On October 26, the road transport ministry notified amendments updating emission certification provisions to include E100 alongside E85, which contains 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol.

A day later, petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the Centre had no immediate plans to increase ethanol blending in petrol beyond the existing 20 per cent.

During Thursday's hearing, the Supreme Court also stressed the need to consider farmers' interests and the environmental implications of ethanol production.

“We need to empower the common man who is still in the villages,” the bench observed, emphasising the larger public interest.

Venkataramani assured the court that he would address the concerns relating to farmers during his arguments.

One of the advocates submitted that promoting ethanol would benefit farmers, while another said the Centre's ethanol policy already took their interests into account.

Unlike conventional petrol vehicles designed for lower ethanol blends, flex-fuel vehicles can operate on higher concentrations such as E85 and E100.

The Supreme Court posted the matter for further hearing next month.