Advisory issued for installing flex-fuel engines in vehicles
Recently, the government has issued an advisory to automakers to install flex-fuel engines in vehicles.
- Car makers have been given six months to install flex-fuel engines so that in future cars can also run on ethanol.
- The FFV is a modified version of the vehicle powered by blended petrol containing varying levels of gasoline (petrol/diesel) and ethanol mixtures.
- They are currently being used successfully in Brazil. This has given people the option of substituting fuels (gasoline and ethanol).
- Flex fuel, or flexible fuel, is an alternative fuel made from a mixture of gasoline and methanol or ethanol.
Benefits of FFV
- It offers the option of using bio-fuel, which is better than petrol (the import option is cost-effective, pollution-free and local).
- The target date for achieving 20% ethanol-blending with petrol has been extended by five years to the year 2025.
- Can help to overcome the problems of surplus food grains (can be used in making ethanol).
- Helpful in reducing dependence on oil imports.
Challenges:
- Requires additional investment from auto companies in production lines and technology transfer.
- Ethanol can cause corrosion and damage the engine.
- Ethanol is not as economical as gasoline, as it does not provide the same level of fuel efficiency.
Source – The Hindu
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