Flex-Fuel Technology and Toyota’s First FFV Launch in India

Posted on: Nov 25, 2022 | | Written by:

Flex-Fuel Technology and Toyota’s First FFV Launch in India

Published on November 25, 2022. EST READ TIME: 4 minutes

As the world is hunting for alternatives to conventional energy to run vehicles, Toyota has launched its pilot flex fuel-strong hybrid electric vehicle in India. Although India has been for quite some time taking initiatives in all alternative energy technologies, tackling vehicular emissions is still among the most crucial targets for the country recently. Ethanol has emerged as the prominent one among all other biofuels pushing flex-fuel electric vehicles (EVs) to be the new norm in the automotive industry. If this intrigues you, let’s decode this flex-fuel technology and how it’s different from regular petrol-driven cars. And if this new-tech car enthrals you so much so that you buy it right away, don’t forget to check out our HDFC Ergo Toyota car insurance plans and shield your car with one of them.

Flex-Fuel Technology

Flexible fuel vehicles or FFVs feature an internal combustion engine and can operate on gasoline or any mix of gasoline and ethanol up to 83%. FFVs work on a one-fuel system, and except for the ethanol compatibility and a different powertrain calibration, FFVs are similar to conventional gasoline-only vehicles. The Toyota’s new FFV-SHEV vehicle, however, goes a step ahead of the usual FFV definition as it can run on 100% ethanol. The vehicle features an electric powertrain along with a flex-fuel engine that boosts the dual perks of higher ethanol usage and increased fuel efficiency. It’s so because the vehicle can operate in an EV mode for a considerable amount of time while the engine is completely shut off.

How Are Flex-Fuel Cars Different From Petrol-Only Cars?

In flex-fuel cars, the proportion of ethanol to petrol can be adjusted; however, most FFVs usually go with the 85% ethanol and 15% petrol combination. Ethanol, unlike petrol, is not a by-product of crude oil; instead, it’s derived from biomass left behind from agricultural feedstocks, namely potato, rice, sugarcane, corn, hemp, etc. As ethanol is extracted from these natural sources and burns cleaner than petrol, it’s a much more environment-friendly option to the latter. India being an agricultural country, has these resources in abundance, and so the Indian government is encouraging ethanol as a primary alternative. Unlike petrol-only cars that store petrol and CNG in different tanks, which are used by the engine separately, FFVs store the flex-fuel blend in a single tank. Flex-fuel engines are designed using advanced technology, such as electronic sensors, due to which FFVs can themselves detect the fuel mix and make adjustments accordingly. Whether you've got a car that runs on petrol or ethanol, you should insure it. Visit HDFC ERGO and get yourself the best plan from our car insurance onlineplans.

What Are the Benefits of Flex-Fuel Cars?

1. Positive Environmental Impact

Pollution is on the rise more than ever, and the world is getting darker by the day. At such a time, flex-fuel vehicles are the greener option to use than regular petrol cars. Ethanol releases fewer toxic fumes when it burns, thus reducing the percentage of sulphur, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen and carbon oxides. These are excellent results to achieve from the anti-pollution perspective.

2. Help Combat Rising Fuel Prices

With inflation surging all across the globe, fuel prices are at record highs in many parts of the world. Ethanol, on the contrary, originates from agricultural products, so not only it acts as an effective biofuel alternative to oil, but it decreases the over-dependence on foreign oil, reducing oil prices.

3. Advanced Burning Feature

Perhaps the most prominent benefit of flex-fuel vehicles is their design, in which they burn whatever mixture ratio is available in their combustion chambers. Cutting-edge electronic sensors gauge the fuel mix while microprocessors take care of the fuel injection and maintain the timing.

4. Tax Benefits

Flex-fuel vehicles even help owners with the flex fuel tax credit that has replaced the clean-fuel burning deduction. The tax credit significantly decreases and may even put an end to an owner’s tax obligation.

In a Nutshell

Flex-fuel technology is rapidly gaining traction in the automotive industry, and governments of different countries are encouraging their production not only because it’s a greener choice but because it's good for their economies. As of now, the US, Brazil, the EU and China hold the first four positions as the top manufacturers of ethanol, and India holds the fifth rank. Consequently, flex-fuel cars are popular in these places, and India is also making its mark in the race. Toyota’s first FFV-SHEV launch in India is definitely a major step that’s likely to bring about substantial changes in the Indian automotive market and push other top car manufacturers to launch their versions of FFVs. On a slightly different (but necessary) note, if you’re in search of the best third-party car insurance, you're welcome to give our HDFC ERGO car insurance plans a look and get the one that best suits your needs.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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