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Maruti Suzuki has showcased India’s first flex-fuel car- the WagonR flex-fuel. We expect it to go on sale here in the coming months. The showcasing took place at an event organized in Taj Palace, New Delhi, in the attendance of Union Ministers and top Maruti Suzuki executives. The WagonR Flex Fuel supports blends of up to E85 (85% Ethanol-blended petrol).

Maruti Suzuki showcased the Wagon R Flex Fuel at an event attended by Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways and Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

The WagonR is one of Maruti Suzuki’s best-selling models in India. It enjoys a strong foothold in both private and commercial segments. This acceptance may have influenced the company’s decision to use this tall-boy hatchback platform as the base for its first flex fuel product in the country. Using a proven platform to debut a new-age (fuel) technology feels like a safe formula.

The flex fuel version will come with notable engineering changes- mainly in the plumbing and ECU calibration. It will use the same 1.2L naturally aspirated petrol engine as the outgoing model. This unit will, however, have new injectors, heated fuel rails, and a different fuel pump. These enable it to handle higher concentration of Ethanol and efficiently deal with its corrosive nature.

The system will also have an Ethanol sensor which will feed the ECU with data on the actual blend of the fuel (Ethanol percentage) used. The ECU will use this to adjust combustion characteristics of the engine. This will further ensure optimal performance and efficiency on all blends.

The WagonR Flex Fuel will be able to operate on blends ranging from E20 ( 20% Ethanol-blended petrol, the current standard) to E85 ( 85% Ethanol-blended petrol). This aligns well with India’s aggressive Ethanol push. The government is said to be laying the foundation for higher blends in the country- E22, E25, E27 and E30 have already been notified. E85 will, however, be a huge leap. More vehicle manufacturers are expected to launch E85-compatible products in the near future.

Maruti Suzuki has only showcased the WagonR Flex Fuel today. There is still time left for its market launch and for the prices to be out. In the coming years, we are likely to see more flex-fuel models from the carmaker.

Talking at the launch, Minister Puri said that E85 fuel will soon be introduced in the country. He also added that it will be significantly more affordable than the current E20 petrol. This is likely to make flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) cost-effective modes of commute. Many may even see them as more practical alternatives to electric vehicles. EVs continue to be plagued by charging- challenges in many cities.

A complete rollout of E85 fuel will likely take time. Separate dispensers and storage facilities will need to be set up at petrol bunks to sell E85 fuel. It will be sold alongside regular petrol, which currently is E20. In the future, blending levels of regular petrol is also expected to increase.