Hero To Launch Flex Fuel Versions Of All Motorcycles And Scooters

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has been pushing for an ethanol revolution in the country. He has been advocating for higher Ethanol blending in domestic Petrol and Isobutanol in Diesel to reduce crude oil dependency and to empower India’s farmers.

Hero MotoCorp, world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer and India’s largest 2W manufacturer, has just launched E85 compliant Splendor+ and HF Deluxe motorcycles in the country. Now, the company has announced that all of their motorcycle and scooter portfolio will be E85-compliant (85% Ethanol blend) in a matter of two years.

Hero Flex Fuel Portfolio

The push towards flex fuel vehicles has been accelerating in the country. In 2W realm, Honda and Suzuki were already present in premium low-volume segments, but Hero MotoCorp has entered the chat now with flex fuel versions of high-volume Splendor+ and HF Deluxe motorcycles, starting from Rs 72,792 (Ex-sh).

At the launch of Splendor+ Flex Fuel and HF Deluxe Flex Fuel bikes, Hero MotoCorp CEO, Harshavardhan Chitale, mentioned that the company is ready to launch flex fuel versions of all Hero motorcycles and scooters in the country. Also, he mentioned that this major shift can be achieved in a matter of two years.

This is because Hero MotoCorp has already developed appropriate technology for flex fuel vehicles and is ready to extend it across its portfolio. This means that the lineup starting from HF Deluxe with a 100cc engine all the way till Mavrick 440 with a 440cc engine and everything in between.

What to expect?

Currently, Hero MotoCorp has just launched the E85 (85% Ethanol blend) capable Flex Fuel versions of Splendor+ and HF Deluxe. Hero MotoCorp has already confirmed that these vehicles can be programmed to be with E100 fuels (100% Ethanol) as well, depending on the situation, political push and fuel availability.

Currently, the E85 capable Flex Fuel versions of Splendor+ and HF Deluxe will be sold in Delhi and a few select areas of Maharashtra state, depending on fuel availability. Deliveries of these vehicles will start from July 2026. As per the Government, E85 fuel will be substantially cheaper than E20 fuel and will be priced accordingly for end users.

There is a grey area regarding this whole Ethanol blending aspirations in the country. For starters, Indian Government has not been able to provide concrete evidence to show that higher Ethanol blends will not damage existing vehicles. Also, there is less clarity about the availability of E10 fuels once the shift to higher blends is implemented.

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