Flex-fuel vehicles are here. Well, almost.
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Automakers are gearing up to launch a range of flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs), which can run on a variety of fuels, starting this year-end as the government aggressively promotes biofuels to cut emissions and reduce the country's dependence on costly oil imports.
Automakers have committed to support these goals, with each two-wheeler and four-wheeler manufacturer rolling out plans for mass production of at least one FFV starting late 2024. These products will also help them meet the government's strict CO2 emissions norms, two people with direct knowledge of the matter told Mint.
Flex-fuel vehicles are fitted with combustion engines that can run on more than one type of fuel. Typically, they can operate on a blend of petrol (gasoline) and ethanol, ranging from pure gasoline (E0) to ethanol-blended fuels such as E85 (85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) or even pure ethanol (E100).
Two-wheeler makers such as Yamaha, Hero MotoCorp, Suzuki, Bajaj Auto, and Royal Enfield showcased flex-fuel vehicles that can run on up to 85% ethanol-blended fuel (E85) earlier this year and are preparing to release one FFV two-wheeler model by the end of the year, while major carmakers like Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, and Toyota have showcased flex-fuel versions of some models at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024. The people cited earlier added that Tata Motors has been testing flex-fuel vehicles in Pune, and Hyundai Motor India has also committed to readying an E100 FFV model by late 2025-early 2026 for the Indian market, depending on the commercial availability of ethanol and the right enablers for the technology's adoption being in place.
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