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Maruti Suzuki WagonR Flex Fuel becomes the country’s first passenger vehicle capable of operating on ethanol blends of up to E85
Maruti Suzuki has taken another step towards alternative fuel mobility by unveiling the WagonR Flex Fuel capable of operating on ethanol blends of up to E85. It shows the company’s ongoing efforts to support India’s biofuel roadmap while reducing dependence on conventional fossil fuels and combat price increase. Based on the familiar WagonR tall boy hatchback’s platform, the flex fuel version has been engineered to run on a wide range of ethanol-petrol blends.
Compared to conventional petrol-powered vehicles, ethanol blends can help reduce tailpipe emissions and lower crude oil consumption. The Indo-Japanese auto major says the project sticks with the central government’s target of expanding ethanol usage in the automotive sector while supporting India’s energy security goals on a long terms.
Unlike a standard petrol vehicle, the Maruti Suzuki WagonR Flex Fuel receives several hardware and software modifications to handle higher ethanol content. The engine benefits from upgraded fuel delivery components, ethanol-compatible materials and revised engine calibration. The powertrain management system continuously adjusts fuel injection and combustion parameters depending on the ethanol concentration being used.
The WagonR continues to be one of Maruti Suzuki’s most important models in India and serves as an ideal platform for exercising alternative fuel technologies due to its widespread popularity. The vehicle was revealed in the presence of Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
The key highlight is its ability to operate on E85 fuel – a blend containing up to 85 per cent ethanol. While E20 petrol has already become the standard fuel across India, the government is now laying the foundation for higher ethanol blends. Recently, fuel specifications for E22, E25, E27 and E30 were officially notified – paving the way for wider usage of ethanol-based fuels in the coming years.
Hardeep Singh Puri has also indicated that E85 fuel will be introduced soon and is expected to be priced significantly lower than E20 petrol. Flex fuel vehicles are increasingly being viewed as a practical complement to electric vehicles – mainly in markets where charging infrastructure is still developing.
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