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More Hybrid cars for India
Hybrid cars are the most happening cars in the world. For over 30 years the ethanol blended cars have been used in Brazil and US. There was a significant increase in petrol prices in 70’s which pushed these countries to look for alternative fuel. Most of this alternative fuel was concentrated on Ethanol and Methanol, byproducts of sugarcane and corn molasses. These crops are grown in large scale in both these countries. Hence, they were easily adaptable.
India tryst with ethanol has recently started with the new 8th generation Accord. The Accord is fitted with E-10 engine a combination of 10% ethanol and 90 % petrol. It is a baby steps towards the use of these fuels.
Ethanol or ethyl alcohol is a clear, colourless liquid with a characteristic agreeable odour. Experts are working on to blends to the quantity of E-85 or E-95. This will reduce the dependency of car to use petrol. The ethanol blend fuel reduces carbon mono-oxide better than any petrol products (including refined or re-formulated). The Ethanol lowers petrol volatility and helps to reduce emission significantly. More than half the cars in US are already fitted with engine to use 10 percent ethanol.
In India, the car manufacturers who have gone ahead with the E10 combination of fuel are Honda Siel Cars India Limited and General Motors. Honda has started it with Accord and Civic and General Motors has announced to launch E10 cars. It is easy for GM to import the technology from US and re-invent the same engine suited to Indian needs.
Maruti Suzuki India had announced that it is planning to introduce E10 cars and Hyundai Motors has not clarified about any time frame for bringing an E10 car.
As the engine is different from regular ones, the cost of a car with an E-10 engine will be more by Rs 2000 to Rs 6000. However, once a car is fitted with the fuel combination engines, they cannot be upgraded to petrol engine. They can be further tweaked to use higher amounts of ethanol.
But the crux of using an E10 car is the undisrupted supply of E10 fuel. It becomes the responsibility of fuel suppliers to ensure a smooth flow of E10 petrol across the country. However, India lacks a clear policy on Ethanol for transportation purpose.
But the crux of using an E10 car is the undisrupted supply of E10 fuel. It becomes the responsibility of fuel suppliers to ensure a smooth flow of E10 petrol across the country. However, India lacks a clear policy on Ethanol for transportation purpose.
India is the second largest producer of sugarcane in the world after Brazil. However, the entire ethanol produced is used for industrial purposes and beverages. Unlike India, Brazil uses 60 percent of the sugarcane to manufacture ethanol for automobiles. India is yet to come up with E10 policy.
Accord has initiated the revolution and more cars could come up with the same engine. Since it is a proven technology imitating it in India would not be difficult.
Accord has initiated the revolution and more cars could come up with the same engine. Since it is a proven technology imitating it in India would not be difficult.
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