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News: Government is planning E100 fuel blending and promoting flex-fuel vehicles due to the energy crisis caused by the West Asia war.
About Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs)
- Flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) are vehicles with internal combustion engines that can run on petrol, bio-ethanol, or their mixtures.
- Key aspects:
- Fuel flexibility: FFVs can operate on petrol, ethanol, or blends including high ethanol levels like E100, allowing multiple fuel options across regions.
- Engine mechanism and modification: FFVs use a fuel mix sensor and engine control module that detect fuel composition and adjust engine parameters, while fuel systems and injectors are modified to handle ethanol properties.
- Cost and efficiency: Ethanol costs around Rs 60–62 per litre, while petrol costs above Rs 100, but ethanol delivers lower energy, leading to higher fuel consumption.
- Economic and agricultural link: Ethanol is produced from surplus crops like corn, sugar, and wheat, which helps farmers earn better income, while increased ethanol use reduces crude oil import dependence.
- Significance: FFVs help reduce fossil fuel use, lower emissions, and decrease India’s dependence on imported crude oil.
