Flex Fuel: All the Information You Need

 

Flex-fuel is gaining popularity as an alternative, environmentally friendly fuel for our vehicles, according to recent news reports. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, has been urging automakers to create flex-fuel compliant engines for the next models. Flex-fuel appears to be a viable alternative fuel to address growing fuel prices while introducing a more environmentally friendly fuel to bridge the gap till the eventual changeover to complete electrification. Here is everything you need to know about flex fuel system and what to anticipate when these engines are eventually implemented.

What is Flex-Fuel?

Flex-fuel is an alternative fuel that incorporates either methanol or ethanol with normal gasoline. This fuel mixture is stored in the same tank and is used as blended fuel by the engine. In contrast, CNG fuel systems store gasoline and CNG in separate tanks, and the engine uses both independently. The ratio of ethanol to gasoline can be varied from 100 percent gasoline to 100 percent ethanol and everywhere in between. The most often used flex-fuels contain 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, although this ratio can be altered to contain additional gasoline to prevent cold starting issues in cold climates.

How does Flex-Fuel work?

Unlike CNG vehicles, flex-fuel vehicles require minimum modifications to the fuel system and engine in order to utilise the fuel successfully. This implies that flex-fuel compatibility must be factory-engineered and cannot be retrofitted. The modifications to the fuel system and engine are intended to protect engines from the corrosive effects of ethanol. This necessitates little changes in driving behaviour on the part of consumers, which facilitates the rapid acceptance of the fuel by the general public.