Fuel Stations to Offer Customizable Ethanol Blends Based on Vehicle Specifications: Report

India to Allow Motorists to Choose from Petrol with Varying Ethanol Blends

Fuel stations across India may soon offer motorists a choice of petrol with varying ethanol blends, allowing customers to select fuel based on their vehicle compatibility. According to sources, the government has advised oil companies to prepare for dispensing infrastructure for E20, E22, E25, and E30 fuel variants.

The move follows the Bureau of Indian Standards introducing norms for new ethanol blends, as well as the government's proposal in April to permit fully ethanol-powered vehicles. This initiative is expected to require significant investments in separate dispensing systems, storage infrastructure, blending controls, and fuel quality monitoring mechanisms.

The rollout is likely to involve the display of information on ethanol-blended petrol sold at fuel stations on dispensing pumps, allowing consumers to easily identify the fuel they are buying. Retail outlets will also be required to label the different variants. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the prices of different variants will differ.

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Amid volatile crude oil prices and energy security concerns linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict, India is looking to deepen ethanol adoption. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20% of the world's oil supply passes, has intensified concerns around crude supply disruptions and price volatility.