Toyota is expected to deliver India’s first flex-fuel vehicle on Wednesday. On the fringes of a recent event, Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of Transport, declared that he would begin a new trial project with a brand-new Toyota vehicle that would run on flex-fuel.
According to Kenichi Ayukawa, president of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the program will enable India to achieve its goal of ranking among the top worldwide producers in each car class within the next 25 years.
Other automakers are also aiming to enter India’s auto market with flex-fuel vehicles, in addition to Toyota. However, Indians must still wait a while before they can buy these autos from dealerships.
It is best to learn everything there is to know about the environmentally friendly flex-fuel technology till then.
Flex-fuel technology: what is it?
These Flex Fuel Vehicles, as suggested by their name, are not restricted to a single type of fuel and may flexibly run on a mixture of gasoline and ethanol up to 83%.
Flex Fuel Vehicles are currently offered in the USA, Brazil, and Canada. Around 21 million Flexi Fuel Vehicles were operating on American highways as of 2018, according to an official US website.
According to the US Department of Energy, FFVs perform better under acceleration when they are fuelled with higher ethanol blends.
What differentiates flex-fuel vehicles from petrol cars?
The majority of the components in flexible fuel vehicles are comparable to those in gasoline-only vehicles, according to the US Department of Energy. The FFVs primarily have an internal combustion engine and may run on petrol or a mixture of up to 83% ethanol and petrol.
These automobiles differ from petrol-only vehicles due to a number of ethanol-compatible parts that have been installed in them. The fuel injection system and fuel pump have been modified.
FFVs are additionally calibrated with Engine Control Module to account for the greater oxygen concentration of ethanol.
The fuel mixture, ignition timing, and emissions system are all monitored and managed by it. Along with this, the module also monitors the performance of the car and protects the engine against misuse. It is also in charge of problem detection and resolution.
What are the advantages of a flex fuel vehicle?
Owners of flex-fuel vehicles have several advantages over petrol-only drivers, one of which is the ability to switch to ethanol at any time.
They will have a larger range of fuel options, which could protect them from drastically fluctuating petrol prices.
As of the right moment, ethanol is significantly less expensive than petrol in India, giving flex fuel vehicle owners the option to use the fuel to reduce their fuel costs. Additionally, it will assist India in lessening its reliance on petroleum imports.
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