Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari said that he will be issuing an order in the next three to four months which will say mandating all auto manufacturers to power their vehicles with flex engines which can run on more than one fuel.
The statement comes about a month after Nitin Gadkari said that the central government will soon make it mandatory for auto manufacturers to offer vehicles running 100% on bio-fuels.
Nitin Gadkari has been supporting for the use of alternative energy sources and bio-fuels to bring down the environmental impact left behind by the Indian auto industry.
Not only is alternative fuel less polluting and saves forex but also it is cost-effective for users.
Highlighting out that a litre of bioethanol costs ₹65 as against ₹110 paid for petrol.
Nitin Gadkari Said :
“We are commit to delivering vehicles with flex engine norms. We have taken a decision, we will make it mandatory by which there will be a flex-engine.”
“State-run oil marketing companies have already been order to offer bio-fuels at the same facilities as the ones selling petrol and diesel”.
What is Flex Engines?
Flex engines power what are known as flexible-fuel vehicles or flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs).
These vehicles can run on alternative fuel which equip with an internal combustion engine that is design to run on more than one fuel.
These FFVs usually run on gasoline blended with either ethanol or methanol fuel.
Both fuels are store in a common tank.
The resulting blend is burnt in the combustion chamber and generating power for the vehicle.
Flex-fuel vehicles are different from bi-fuel vehicles which use two fuels store in separate tanks and as such may prove to be costlier than its alternative.
The ethanol flexible-fuel vehicle is the most common form of commercially available flex engine in the global market.
Most of these FFVs in Western countries run on E85 which is a blend of 85% anhydrous ethanol and 15% gasoline.
Why Flex Engines be Essential for India?
According to Union minister Nitin Gadkari customers will be provided a choice between using conventional petrol-power engines and those running on bioethanol.
Nitin Gadkari said a switch to the alternative is essential for the country because of the surplus production of crops like rice, maize, corn, and sugar, from which bioethanol is made.
The minimum support price (MSP) offer to the farmers is higher than the commercial price or the one in international prices which makes it essential for diverting the harvest for the overall betterment of the country.
Nitin Gadkari also said that the central government is mulling over the concept of an ‘electric highway’ to be built between the national capital of Delhi and Jaipur in Rajasthan.
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