Maruti Suzuki WagonR Flex Fuel has become the first passenger car in the country that is capable of running on E85 (85% ethanol blended fuel).
Work is going on rapidly regarding flex-fuel in the Indian market. Just yesterday, Hero MotoCorp launched the E85-fuel compatible Splendor+ and HF Deluxe in India. Today Maruti Suzuki has revealed WagonR Flex Fuel. With this, it has become the first flex-fuel passenger car introduced by an Indian car manufacturer.
WagonR is one of the most popular and important cars of Maruti Suzuki in India. Considering its huge popularity, the company has chosen it to introduce the new alternative fuel technology. This flex-fuel car was unveiled in the presence of Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
This step is part of the government’s plan to reduce dependence on oil imports by promoting the use of ethanol mixed petrol and encourage the adoption of environmentally friendly vehicles. Maruti Suzuki WagonR Flex Fuel is designed to be compatible with E85 fuel. In E85, maximum 85 percent ethanol is mixed with petrol.
Ethanol is produced from agricultural crops like sugarcane and maize, hence it is considered a better and environment-friendly alternative to petrol, which can also help in meeting the energy needs of the country. While many automakers have showcased flex-fuel prototypes before, Maruti Suzuki has now become the first passenger vehicle manufacturer in the country to formally launch a flex-fuel car.
Compared to a normal petrol car, many hardware and software changes have been made in the Maruti Suzuki WagonR Flex Fuel, so that it can run smoothly even on high ethanol fuel. Its engine has been given an upgraded fuel system, ethanol-friendly parts and new engine tuning. Additionally, its engine management system automatically adjusts the fuel injection and combustion process according to the amount of ethanol being used.
WagonR Flex Fuel comes at a time when there is growing interest in alternative fuel technologies in the Indian automobile industry. Interestingly, Maruti Suzuki has also been adopting a long-term strategy with new technologies in the past. Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has also indicated that E85 fuel will soon be made available in the market and its price could be much lower than E20 petrol. At the same time, in areas where charging infrastructure is not yet fully developed, flex-fuel vehicles are being seen as a viable alternative to electric vehicles.