New Delhi: Only four flex-fuel vehicles have been sold in Delhi since the technology entered the Indian passenger vehicle market last month.The data on govt’s Vahan portal shows that three flex-fuel vehicles, all in the motor car category, were registered in June, the month the first such passenger vehicle was launched. One more car, so far, was registered in July.. In June, a flex-fuel motorcycle by another manufacturer was also launched.Flex-fuel vehicles, or FFVs, are designed to run on a combination of petrol and ethanol, or pure ethanol or just petrol. Unlike regular petrol vehicles, the flex-fuel ones are supposedly designed to handle much higher ethanol content in the fuel. The much talked about E20 fuel contains 20% ethanol and 80% petrol. E85 fuel contains up to 85% ethanol, and E100 is nearly pure ethanol. Most new petrol cars and motorcycles sold in India right now are E20-compatible.To support the blended fuel, manufacturers use ethanol-resistant fuel lines, dedicated injectors, recalibrated ECUs and sensors that detect the ethanol-petrol mix inside the tank and adjust the engine’s performance accordingly. In Delhi, flex-fuel cars start around Rs 7.2 lakh ex-showroom, while flex-fuel bikes range from Rs 72,792 to Rs 1.24 lakh. These vehicles are compatible with high-ethanol blends, including E85 fuel, which is sold at specialised dispensing stations in the region for around ₹82 per litreThe policy of using ethanol-blended fuel has been linked to bringing down India’s high crude oil imports. Of late though, doubts have been raised repeatedly on the efficiency of E20. There are allegations that the fuel reduces mileage and causes engine damage. Conclusive proof is yet to emerge but the talk has the potential to sow doubt in the minds of buyers, which an expert pointed out.The International Council on Clean Transportation India managing director Amit Bhatt said: “It will take time for the supporting infrastructure to develop. There are also limited models available at present.”Bhatt added that Delhi’s policy environment is currently geared towards electric vehicles, making EVs a more attractive choice for buyers who are considering alternative technologies. “Even though ethanol is cleaner than petrol, flex-fuel vehicles still have tailpipe emissions, which contribute to air pollution. People looking to shift to cleaner technologies are therefore more likely to opt for electric vehicles, given the strong policy push for EVs in Delhi,” he said.In markets like Brazil, where govt enforces differential pricing and higher ethanol blends are significantly cheaper than pure petrol, there too electric cars account for about 10% of sales, he said.Transport expert Anil Chhikara of the Asian Institute of Transport Development said the ongoing debate around E20 compatibility may also have affected consumer confidence. “The controversy around E20 has come at a time when these flex-fuel models have been launched, so that would have affected sales,” he said.For wider adoption, Chhikara said govts should themselves begin using flex-fuel vehicles. “If we want mass adoption of flex fuel, trust has to be built. Govt fleets should start using these vehicles. Ultimately, new technologies gain acceptance through user experience,” he said.“Also, winning the game lies in word-of-mouth feedback. Only when people give good feedback in their areas, will the sales rise,” he added.A former Delhi govt official, who was part of govt’s transition to electric from CNG, said limited availability of higher ethanol-blend fuel stations, a small number of vehicle models and the absence of an established servicing ecosystem mean buyers have little incentive to opt for flex-fuel vehicles. “But in the coming days, you will see that people have more options and that would translate into sales,” he said. “We spend billions of dollars importing crude oil every year, which negatively affects our economy,” he added.
