FLEX-FUEL ENGINES

Flex fuel engines allows for flexibility between carbon neutral fuel blends and saves money as well

- SHASHANK SINGH

Last month we discussed carbon-neutral fuels that India is aggressively pitching in its market. This is to essentially make vehicles with ICE engines plying our roads almost emission-free. What we need to understand though is, these fuels are currently available in some percentage of blends with regular petrol, since no existing engine can use 100 percent ethanol (a carbon-neutral fuel). Under the current distribution plan, vehicles sold after 2008 in India are compatible with E10 fuel (10 percent ethanol and 90 percent petrol). Cars to be sold after 2025 have to mandatorily be compatible with E20 fuel. This fuel will be introduced at filling stations all over India. Post this timeline, the government wants to aggressively push towards E85 fuel. However, these fuel blends can cause considerable damage to non-compatible engines.