Maruti Suzuki unveils WagonR Flex Fuel, compatible with E20 to E100 ethanol blends

Maruti Suzuki has showcased the WagonR Flex Fuel, becoming the first mainstream carmaker in India to introduce a flex fuel passenger vehicle. The model is fully compliant with E85 fuel, which contains up to 85 per cent ethanol, and supports ethanol blends ranging from E20 to upwards of E100. The move aligns with the government’s push towards reducing crude oil imports and promoting cleaner, domestically produced fuels. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also confirmed that E85 fuel pumps will soon begin rolling out across the country. Here’s everything you need to know about the WagonR Flex Fuel.

What is flex fuel?

Flex fuel vehicles are designed to operate on multiple ethanol-petrol blends. In the case of the WagonR Flex Fuel, the car can use any ethanol blend ranging between E20 and E100. This allows greater fuel flexibility while supporting India’s broader strategy of reducing oil imports and increasing the use of alternative fuels.

How does the Maruti Suzuki WagonR Flex Fuel work?

The WagonR Flex Fuel has been engineered to run on varying ethanol blends from E20 to E100 without requiring any manual intervention from the driver. To make this possible, Maruti Suzuki has equipped the car with revised fuel lines, upgraded injectors, and an ethanol sensor, along with a few other revised components. The sensor detects the ethanol concentration in the fuel and adjusts engine parameters accordingly.

Maruti Suzuki WagonR Flex Fuel impact on oil imports and emissions

According to Maruti Suzuki, the flex fuel technology significantly reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels by promoting indigenous ethanol-based fuel. Ethanol is largely produced from agricultural feedstock in India, making it a more sustainable alternative to conventional petrol. With this, the government will also be able to provide some relief from the rising fuel costs.

Moreover, the company also highlighted that the WagonR Flex Fuel delivers near-zero particulate matter emissions and contributes towards carbon neutrality goals.

Where do you get E85 fuel?

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri was present at the launch, and he stated that E85 fuel will be introduced soon and is expected to cost significantly less than current E20 petrol. He added that around 50 to 100 E85 fuel pumps are expected to be operational shortly, with plans to expand the network to 500 pumps by the end of this year and 5,000 pumps by the end of next year. Cities, including Delhi NCR and Pune, are among the first locations expected to receive E85 fuel infrastructure.

Other flex fuel cars in the market

While Maruti Suzuki is the first mainstream manufacturer to introduce a flex fuel vehicle, several sources suggest that other manufacturers like Tata Motors and Toyota are also working on such vehicles.