E85 fuel costs less than gasoline, but here’s the reality of fuel-efficiency

India has officially entered the E85 fuel era. Recently, the country’s first E85 fuel dispenser was inaugurated in Delhi, the price of this fuel is Rs 82.12 per liter. This makes it cheaper by about Rs 20 than regular E20 petrol in the national capital. On paper, this sounds like a big win for operating costs. But there’s another side to the story that buyers need to understand: fuel efficiency.

E85 Gasoline Fuel Efficiency Explained

E85 fuel is a blend that contains 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Ethanol is typically produced from sugarcane, corn, and other agricultural feedstock. However, while E85 fuel is significantly cheaper than gasoline, vehicles running on it generally get lower mileage. The reason for this lies in the basic energy content of ethanol itself.Petrol contains more energy per liter than ethanol. Ethanol burns cleaner and has a higher octane rating, but it also has a lower calorific value. In simple terms, an engine needs to burn more ethanol-based fuel to produce the same amount of energy as regular gasoline can produce. This has a direct impact on kilometers per litre.Globally, flex-fuel vehicles running on E85 typically provide around 20 to 30 percent less fuel efficiency than pure petrol, depending on driving conditions, engine tuning and vehicle type. Real-world losses may vary. Some engines specifically calibrated for ethanol blends can reduce the difference, but the drop in mileage is still noticeable.For example, if a petrol motorcycle gives a mileage of 50 kmpl on regular fuel, the same bike may see the mileage figures drop to 40-42 kmpl when running on E85. But this does not mean that operating costs will be higher. Actual savings will depend on final fuel price, vehicle efficiency and usage patterns. For daily commuters traveling long distances, especially two-wheeler users, E85 can still reduce the monthly fuel bill if the price difference remains large enough. However, currently, there is another major limitation: vehicle compatibility.Currently only a few vehicles in India can run on E85 fuel. Hero MotoCorp recently launched the Splendor+ flex fuel and HF Deluxe flex fuel motorcycles, both compatible with ethanol blends up to E85. Suzuki already sells the Gixxer SF 250 FFV in India, which can also operate on higher ethanol blends. Maruti Suzuki has additionally showcased the Wagon R Flex Fuel, although the price and launch timeline are yet to be announced.Infrastructure is another challenge. At present, the availability of E85 fuel is extremely limited. The government has announced plans to aggressively expand ethanol fuel infrastructure, with plans to open around 500 ethanol distribution stations by the end of 2026 and around 5,000 outlets by 2027.