E85 fuel rollout begins at 48 public sector OMC outlets
On 5 June 2026 in New Delhi, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched E85 fuel, with the rollout starting at 48 retail outlets of public sector oil marketing companies.
Summary
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched E85 fuel at an IndianOil retail outlet in New Delhi on World Environment Day, 5 June 2026, with the rollout beginning at 48 public sector OMC retail outlets. E85 contains 80–85 per cent ethanol and 14–19 per cent petrol and is meant for flex-fuel vehicles, which can run on blends from E20 to E100; it is priced nearly ₹20 per litre lower than petrol. The rollout is to scale up to 500 outlets by December 2026 and about 5,000 by December 2027, helping raise aggregate ethanol blending to nearly 26 per cent by 2030-31. Ethanol blending has risen from 1.53 per cent in 2014 to 20 per cent.
Key facts
- Date and place
- 5 June 2026, IndianOil outlet, New Delhi
- Initial rollout
- 48 public sector OMC outlets
- Composition
- 80–85% ethanol, 14–19% petrol
- For
- Flex-fuel vehicles (E20 to E100)
- Price
- ~₹20/litre cheaper than petrol
- Scale-up
- 500 outlets by Dec 2026; ~5,000 by Dec 2027
- Blending
- 1.53% (2014) → 20%; ~26% aggregate by 2030-31
Practice MCQs 3 questions
The E85 fuel rollout launched on 5 June 2026 began at how many public sector OMC retail outlets?
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Correct answer: D — 48
The rollout commenced at 48 public sector OMC retail outlets.
E85 fuel, launched on 5 June 2026, contains what share of ethanol?
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Correct answer: A — 80–85 per cent
E85 comprises 80–85 per cent ethanol and 14–19 per cent petrol, for flex-fuel vehicles.
Consider the following statements about the E85 rollout announced on 5 June 2026: 1. E85 is priced nearly ₹20 per litre lower than conventional petrol. 2. The rollout is planned to reach about 5,000 outlets by December 2026. 3. Ethanol blending in petrol has risen from 1.53 per cent in 2014 to 20 per cent. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 3 only
Statements 1 and 3 are correct. The plan is 500 outlets by December 2026 and about 5,000 by December 2027.