The Prototype of the world’s 1st Bharat Stage-6 (BS6) Stage-II, Electrified Flex fuel vehicle, has been developed by Toyota Kirloskar Motor. This vehicle is capable of running on up to 85% ethanol blended petrol and features an electric powertrain. The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has also emphasized the potential of flex-fuel vehicles to substitute petrol with higher ethanol blends beyond 20%.
About Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFV)
Flex-fuel vehicles are equipped with engines that can run on flexible fuel – a combination of Petrol/Diesel/Electric and ethanol, which can include up to 100% ethanol. Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle integrates both a Flex Fuel engine and an electric powertrain, offering the dual benefit of higher ethanol use and improved fuel efficiency.
Flex Fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles (FFV-SHEV)
When FFV is integrated along with strong hybrid electric technology, it is referred to as FFV-SHEVs. A strong hybrid is another term for full hybrid vehicles, which have the capability to run solely on either electric or petrol modes, unlike mild hybrids which cannot run purely on one of these modes.
Significance of Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicles
The integration of an electric powertrain reduces reliance on conventional fuels, contributing towards sustainable transportation and India’s ‘Aatmnirbhar Bharat’ initiative. These vehicles also enable significantly higher fuel efficiency, optimizing the use of ethanol and electricity, which aligns with global efforts to combat climate change.
About Bharat Stage 6 (Stage-II) Norms
The Bharat Stage (BS) norms are emission standards instituted by the Indian Government to regulate the output of air pollutants from motor vehicles. BS6 (Stage II) have even stricter emission limits and incorporate Real Driving Emissions (RDE) and Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE 2), providing a more realistic estimation of the emissions produced by vehicles in real traffic conditions.
Ethanol Blending
Ethanol, a key biofuel, is produced through fermentation of sugars or petrochemical methods. The Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) in India aims to decrease oil imports, curb emissions, achieve energy self-sufficiency, and increase farmers’ income. The Government has advanced the target for 20% ethanol blending in petrol (E20) to 2025 from 2030.
Other Initiatives to Promote Ethanol Blending in India
To further encourage ethanol blending, the Indian government has launched several initiatives including the National Policy on Biofuels 2018, E100 Pilot project, Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana 2019, and the Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO) programme.
Previous Year Questions (PYQ)
In the 2020 UPSC Civil Services Examination, a question was posed relating to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, asking which raw materials could be used for the production of biofuels. The correct answer was Cassava, Damaged wheat grains, Rotten potatoes and Sugar beet.