E20 and ethanol-blended fuel as a topic has been widely discussed on public forums in the past couple of weeks. Several people across the country have reported drop in mileage and performance ever since E20 (20% ethanol blended) petrol has been made available in fuel stations across the country.
If these claims turn out to be true, then OEMs are likely to have a tough time figuring out the solutions. Meanwhile, Mahindra is gearing up for more technological advancements in this area. A new report suggests that Mahindra is looking to future-proof itself by developing flex-fuel engines.
According to Autocar India, these new engines will be capable of running on E30-rated fuel and higher. With the rollout of E20 fuel in its final stages, the next target for the Government of India will be increasing the ethanol blend in petrol to 30 percent (E30) by 2030. Mahindra is reportedly developing engines that will be compatible with E30 petrol and beyond. As of now, Mahindra has not disclosed a timeline for launching its flex-fuel vehicles.
Ethanol-blended petrol
To operate on E30 and higher ethanol blends (up to 100% ethanol), engines would need additional reengineering. Key upgrades include ethanol content sensors for real-time monitoring of fuel composition, as well as fuel rail and injector heaters to ensure reliable cold starts.
Ethanol-blended fuels can affect the durability of certain components, making engine upgrades necessary to cope with higher ethanol content. This includes adding ethanol sensors and fuel rail and injector heaters, while also reengineering parts that are prone to corrosion. Ethanol in general is more corrosive in nature which can lead to rusting of critical components on prolonged exposure.
Flex-fuel technologies by other brands
At the Auto Expo earlier this year, almost every mainstream passenger car manufacturer in India had showcased flex-fuel concepts of popular models. For instance, Maruti Suzuki displayed the Wagon R Flex Fuel while Hyundai displayed the Creta 1.0 Flex. Similarly, Tata Motors had showcased an E85-compatible Punch. Out of all these concepts, Toyota had the most unique concept where it displayed the Innova Hycross with the hybrid powertrain that could run on E20 and higher-rated fuels.
