Mahindra To Develop Flex Fuel Engines For Future Models
Mahindra To Develop Flex Fuel Engines For Future Models, Will Focus On Engines Which Are Compatible With Higher Percentage Blends Of Ethanol
Mahindra is taking a significant step toward future-proofing its vehicles by developing flex-fuel engines for upcoming models. The company has made headlines after the introduction of the Freedom NU_IQ platform. However, the brand is also focusing on ethanol-compatible technology.
Changes Required
The move aligns with the Indian government’s target to increase ethanol blending in petrol to 30% (E30) by 2030. Mahindra’s flex-fuel engines are being designed to accommodate even higher ethanol concentrations, up to 100% ethanol-based fuels. However, achieving this requires critical upgrades like ethanol content sensors for real-time monitoring and specialised heaters for injectors and fuel rails to enable cold starts.
Flex-fuel technology was a major highlight at the Auto Expo 2025, with multiple automakers showcasing their advancements. Hyundai presented the Creta 1.0 Flex Fuel, Tata displayed an E85-compatible Punch, and Maruti introduced the Wagon R Flex Fuel. Toyota stood out with its petrol-electric hybrid Innova Hycross, capable of running on E20 and higher-rated fuels.
Outlook
Notably, Mahindra has not disclosed a timeline for launching its flex-fuel vehicles. With the country pushing towards cleaner fuel alternatives, the brand’s strategy ensures its models are ready to tackle an uncertain future.
