Flex Fuel Vehicles

Flex Fuel Vehicles

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Policies and interventions and GS III – Conservation

In news: Government may issue guidelines for flex fuel vehicles by October. 

What is Flex fuel vehicle?

• An FFV is a modified version of vehicles that could run both on gasoline and blended petrol with different levels of Ethanol blends. 
  • These are currently being used successfully in Brazil giving people the option to switch fuel.
• Such flexible fuel vehicles provide opportunity for increased use of biofuels for running vehicles. 
• Earlier, Ministry of road transport and Highways had issued a Draft notification for mass emission standards for E 12 (Blend of 12% ethanol in gasoline) and E 15 fuels, thereby facilitating their use as Automotive fuels 

What are the advantages of FFV? 

• Reduced dependence on petrol/diesel & thus reduced dependence on oil imports. 
• Environment friendly because of less pollution. 
• Aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan
• Help in addressing the problems of surplus food grains (can be used in making Ethanol)
• Provides employment opportunities for setting up bio-ethanol plants across India.

Challenges 

• Require additional investment from auto companies in production lines and Technology transfers. 
• Ethanol can also cause corrosion and damage to the engine.
• Ethanol is also not as economical as gasoline as it does not provide the same level of fuel efficiency. 
• Diversion of food crops (like sugarcane) to ethanol production.