Context:
World’s 1st prototype of the BS 6 Stage II ‘Electrified Flex fuel vehicle’ (developed by Toyota Kirloskar Motor) capable of running on up to 85% ethanol blended petrol was launched recently.
About Flex Fuel vehicles (FFV):
- They have an internal combustion engine, but instead of regular petrol, it can run on blended fuel — petrol with ethanol or methanol (ethanol mix can vary between 20% and 100%).
- Unlike electric hybrid vehicles, no bulky parts need to be added to the basic gasoline vehicle architecture.
- Upgrading existing vehicles is possible but expensive and not considered feasible.
- Flexi-Fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles (FFV-SHEV) –
- Capability to run solely on either electric or petrol modes.
- Electrified Flex fuel vehicle that possesses a flex-fuel engine and an electric powertrain.
- This extends dual advantages of higher ethanol use and greater fuel efficiency, as it can run on its EV mode for a good amount of time, while the engine stands shut off.
- Significance of FFV: Less polluting, check on diversion of sugar used in ethanol blending, burn with whatever proportion of mixture is in its combustion chamber, reduced import bill etc.
- Challenges of FFV: lack of adequate infrastructure, issue with ethanol supply since this largely comes from sugarcane in India, less mileage etc.
Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) Norms:
- BS norms are emission standards to regulate the output of air pollutants from motor vehicles.
- Based on – European emission standards
- Implemented by – Central Pollution Control Board
- Present Scenario: Every newly sold and registered vehicle in India is required to adhere to the BS-VI version of emission regulations.
- BS6 (Stage II) has even stricter emission limits compared to the initial BS6 norms.
Source: PIB
Click here to read about Ethanol Programme
Previous Year Question
According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels?
1. Cassava
2. Damaged wheat grains
3. Groundnut seeds
4. Horse gram
5. Rotten potatoes
6. Sugar beet
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]
(a) 1, 2, 5 and 6 only
(b) 1, 3, 4 and 6 only
(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Answer: (a)
