Maruti Suzuki Unveils India's First Flex Fuel Car
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Article summary
Maruti Suzuki has unveiled India's first flex fuel vehicle (FFV), capable of running on any blend of petrol and ethanol up to 100% ethanol (E100), marking a landmark moment in India's automotive and energy transition journey. Flex fuel technology allows a single engine to operate seamlessly on varying proportions of ethanol and petrol, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and cutting vehicular carbon emissions significantly. India has been aggressively pursuing its Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, targeting 20% ethanol blending (E20) by 2025 and eventually higher blends, with flex fuel vehicles being a critical enabler of this roadmap. The launch aligns with the National Biofuel Policy 2018, which promotes ethanol from sugarcane, food grains, and agricultural residues as a sustainable domestic fuel source, benefiting farmers and reducing the import bill. For UPSC aspirants, this development sits at the intersection of energy security, climate action, agricultural economy, and industrial policy — all high-priority themes across GS2, GS3, and Essay papers.
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Sample questions — answers revealed after test
Q1. With reference to India's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme and related policy architecture, which of the following statements is correct?
Q2. A policy analyst is evaluating the macro-economic impact of scaling Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) in India. She identifies four potential outcomes. Which of the following outcomes is LEAST directly supported by the economic logic of FFV adoption in the Indian context?
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs), India's ethanol blending programme, and associated international initiatives: 1. FFVs can operate on any blend of petrol and ethanol ranging from E0 to E100, without requiring the driver to manually switch between fuel modes. 2. Brazil's success in FFV adoption was primarily attributable to its decision to mandate a complete phase-out of petrol-only vehicles by 2005, a model India's National Biofuel Policy 2018 explicitly replicates. 3. The Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA), launched during India's G20 Presidency in 2023, seeks to promote biofuel adoption across developing nations and strengthens India's positioning as a leader in biofuel diplomacy. 4. Ethanol produced from cellulosic biomass is considered to have a lower lifecycle carbon footprint than ethanol produced from sugarcane molasses, because cellulosic feedstocks do not require dedicated cropland irrigation. Which of the statements given above are correct?