India will get its first flex-fuel car, which can run on ethanol-blended petrol and battery, next month. The Flex Fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle (FFVSHEV) imported from Brazil will be used as part of a pilot project to assess its performance in terms of reduced carbon emission.

The car will be flagged off by Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari in the second week of October. Speaking at an event organised by the sugar industry on Wednesday, Brazilian ambassador to India, Andre Aranha Correa do Lago, said the first car has landed in India. 
Experts and automobile industry players said flex-fuel vehicles will hit the Indianmarket from 2024 onwards. 
In Brazil, nearly 85% of the cars sold run on flex fuel.

“The first FFV-SHEV has been brought for research purposes. So far, there is no data in India based on domestic research and hence it is necessary to assess its performance in Indian conditions,” said a ministry source.
FFV engines can run on flexible fuel — a combina-tion of petrol and ethanol, which can include up to 100% ethanol. The FFV-SHEV are the ones in which FFV is integrated along with strong hybrid electric technology. 
According to industry sources, the car can run on ethanol-blended petrol of upto 100% and also on electricity generated during the drive.

Only bike makers have opted for flexi-fuel so far

So far, only Indian two-wheeler manufacturers have launched flex-fuel bikes. The road transport ministry has notified guidelines regarding FFV and FFV-SHEV. The automobile manufacturers are advised to manufacture the cars complying with BS-6 standards. “Since we expect that the ethanol blending will touch 20% by 2025-26, the ground will be ready for rolling out of FFV-SHEV cars in India s these can run on petrol blended with at least 20% ethanol. In areas where there is excess availability of ethanol, these vehicles can ply on 100% ethanol,” said another source.