Maruti Suzuki to unveil flex-fuel car on June 4: All you need to know

Maruti Suzuki is set to take a major step towards cleaner mobility in India with the unveiling of its first flex-fuel passenger vehicle on June 4. The launch will mark the arrival of India’s first mass-market flex-fuel car capable of running on higher ethanol blends.The announcement was recently confirmed by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari during an event in Nagpur. Gadkari said Maruti Suzuki will introduce vehicles capable of running on 100 percent ethanol fuel, also known as E100.A flex-fuel vehicle is designed to run on petrol, ethanol, or a mix of both. Unlike regular petrol cars currently compatible with E20 fuel, flex-fuel vehicles can handle significantly higher ethanol blends, including E85 and E100. Maruti Suzuki has not officially revealed which model will receive the technology first. However, the company could introduce either the WagonR Flex Fuel or the Fronx Flex Fuel. The WagonR appears to be the stronger possibility, as the company has already showcased a flex-fuel version of the hatchback in India.The move is significant because India currently does not have any flex-fuel passenger cars on sale. The government has been strongly promoting ethanol-blended fuels to reduce crude oil imports and lower emissions. According to Gadkari, nearly 87 percent of India’s fuel requirements are met through imports.The government is also planning to expand ethanol infrastructure rapidly, with around 5,000 E100 fuel stations expected to come up across the country over the next two years.