IS 19850 : 2026

E22, E25, E27 and E30 Fuel — Admixture of Anhydrous Ethanol and Motor Gasoline for Usage in the Positive Ignition Engine Powered Vehicles — Specification

Ethanol blended fuels offer significant environmental benefits and contribute to India’s energy security by reducing dependence on imported petroleum. Following the nationwide rollout of E20 fuel under IS 17021 in 2025, the Bureau of Indian Standards has formulated IS 19850 : 2026 to extend India’s ethanol blending programme beyond twenty percent, in alignment with the Government of India’s biofuel roadmap for 2020 to 2025.

This Indian Standard prescribes requirements, sampling procedures and test methods for E22, E25, E27 and E30 fuels, which are admixtures of anhydrous ethanol conforming to IS 15464 with ethanol-free motor gasoline conforming to IS 2796, in proportions of twenty-two, twenty-five, twenty-seven and thirty percent ethanol by volume respectively. These blends are intended for use in positive ignition engine powered vehicles.

This specifies quality parameters including density, distillation behaviour, research octane number, motor octane number, sulphur content, lead content, vapour pressure, benzene content, aromatic content, oxidation stability, ethanol content and water content. Minimum research octane numbers of ninety-five for E22 and ninety-seven for E25, E27 and E30 are prescribed. Permitted additives include corrosion inhibitors, antioxidants, metal deactivators, dyes and multifunctional additives, while additives containing phosphorus, silicon, copper, lead and chlorine are prohibited.

It draws on international experience including Brazilian ethanol fuel specifications and incorporates modified test procedures for octane rating of fuels containing more than twenty-five percent ethanol by volume. Retail dispensing pumps are required to carry labels reading E22, E25, E27 or E30 PETROL as applicable.

Last Updated on June 1, 2026