Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari is pushing for an ethanol revolution in the country. He has been advocating more ethanol in domestic petrol and isobutanol blending in diesel to reduce dependence on crude oil and empower India’s farmers.
Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer and India’s largest 2W manufacturer, recently launched the E85 compliant Splendor+ and HF Deluxe motorcycles in the country. Now, the company has announced that all their motorcycle and scooter portfolio will be E85-compliant (85% ethanol blend) in two years.
Hero Flex Fuel Portfolio
The trend towards flex fuel vehicles is increasing rapidly in the country. In the 2W sector, Honda and Suzuki were already present in the premium low-volume segment, but Hero MotoCorp has now entered the chat with flex fuel versions of the high-volume Splendor+ and HF Deluxe motorcycles, with prices starting at Rs 72,792 (ex-sh).
On the launch of the Splendor+ flex fuel and HF Deluxe flex fuel bikes, Harshvardhan Chitale, CEO, Hero MotoCorp, mentioned that the company is set to launch flex fuel versions of all Hero motorcycles and scooters in the country. Also, he told that this big change can be achieved in two years.
This is because Hero MotoCorp has already developed technology suitable for flex fuel vehicles and is ready to expand it to its portfolio. This means a lineup starting from the HF Deluxe with a 100cc engine all the way up to the Maverick 440 with a 440cc engine and everything in between.
what to expect?
Currently, Hero MotoCorp has launched E85 (85% ethanol blend) capable flex fuel versions of the Splendor+ and HF Deluxe. Hero MotoCorp has already confirmed that these vehicles can also be programmed with E100 fuel (100% ethanol) depending on the situation, political pressure and fuel availability.
Currently, the E85 capable flex fuel versions of the Splendor+ and HF Deluxe will be sold in Delhi and select areas of Maharashtra state depending on the availability of fuel. Delivery of these vehicles will start from July 2026. According to the government, E85 fuel will be much cheaper than E20 fuel and will be priced according to the end users.
There is an ambiguity regarding this overall aspiration of ethanol blending in the country. For starters, the Indian government has not been able to provide concrete evidence to show that the higher ethanol blend will not harm existing vehicles. Additionally, there is less clarity regarding the availability of E10 fuel once the changes are implemented at higher blends.
