Flex Fuel Engine Market: Introduction
- Flex fuel engines are a type of engine that can run on multiple fuels; they have an ability to adjust the air fuel ratios according to calorific value of the fuel
- Most engines are primarily designed to run on ethanol and petrol for petrol engines, while diesel engines are designed to run on diesel or bio-diesel
- Governments across the globe are looking for ways to reduce the dependence on petrol and diesel. Bio fuels are a cheap and reliable option for the future.
- Several companies have already switched to flex fuel engines. Numerous engines perform better with the blended fuel. For instance, Koenigsegg Jesko is powered by a twin turbo charged V8 engine that produces 1280 BHP on petrol and 1600 BHP on E85 fuel, proving the capability of blended fuels.
Key Drivers of Flex Fuel Engine Market
- Crude oil reserves are depleting at a rapid pace, and it is vital to reduce dependence on this fuel. It would also reduce the pollution caused due to burning of fossil fuels.
- Ethanol combustion is cleaner than regular gasoline, hence flex-fuel vehicles emit less poisonous gases into the environment. Flex fuel also produces lesser greenhouse gases, making it a more ecologically friendly substitute than traditional gasoline.
- The crucial benefits of flex-fuel vehicles are that they can run on any ratio of fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. The vehicles are equipped with electronic sensors that measure the blend, and their microchips adjust the fueling and timing in the engine.
- Modern flex-fuel engines can handle fuel that may contain 10% to 85% ethanol. The equipment in the vehicle would control the best proportions.
- Ethanol can be sustainably extracted from materials such as cane sugar and corn. This makes ethanol a more viable alternative to crude oil.
- Flex-fuel vehicles do not experience any loss of performance while running on E85 fuel blend. In fact, a few vehicles produce more torque and horsepower.
Flex Fuel Engine to Offer Attractive Opportunities
- Increasing prices of petrol and diesel is boosting the operational cost for vehicle operators. Encouraging flex fuel engines, as compared to other alternatives, may help to keep the vehicle prices low as well as help protect the environment better.
- These engines are equipped to run on various blends of ethanol based fuels, hence the exhaust fumes contain less NO, CO as well as S2O, as it can more efficiently burn the fuel depending upon the calorific value.
- Users of flex-fuel vehicles receive tax credits that can significantly reduce tax obligations. These facilities are extended by governments in several developed countries.
Low Mileage of Flex Fuel Engine to Hamper Market
- Flex fuel can be sustainably produced using corn and sugar, but it has certain disadvantages. Yields intended to be used for flex-fuel manufacturing cannot be used for other applications. This could possibly increase the price of fodder for animals. Crops such as corn is also vulnerable and highly susceptible to infections due to weather conditions. This can be challenging for the production of ethanol, as it is depends on the production of corn as well as the prices of ethanol may be effected due to poor harvests.
- Use of ethanol based fuels could cause damage to the engine, as ethanol has high affinity to water, which can possibly corrode and damage the engine
- The primary worry of flex-fuel vehicles is mileage. Ethanol has higher octane level; however, it holds less energy. It takes 1.5 times more quantity of fuel to provide the similar energy levels. The only advantage would be by cost rather than quantity.
- The supply on ethanol is limited currently. More crops as well as sustainable production of ethanol would be needed to increase sustainable supply.
Flex Fuel Engine Market to Expand Rapidly Worldwide
- Demand for flex fuel vehicles has increased considerably in countries such as India, the U.S., and a few in Europe
- Prices of crude oil are expected to increase across the globe. Flex fuel engines would be a viable option, as these engines do not need major design changes and are reliable due to basic construction similar to that of regular petrol engines.
Key Players Operating in Flex Fuel Engine Market
The global flex fuel engine market is highly fragmented with top companies across the globe. Some of the key players operating in the global flex fuel engine market are:
- AB Volvo
- Ford Motor Company
- Volkswagen AG
- General Motors
- Honda Corporation
- Nissan Corporation
- MAN
- Cummins
- Caterpillar Inc.
- Daimler AG
- Others
Flex Fuel Engine Market: Research Scope
Flex Fuel Engine Market, by Vehicle Type
- Passenger Vehicle
- Hatchbacks
- Sedans
- Utility Vehicles
- Light Commercial Vehicle
- Heavy Commercial Vehicle
Flex Fuel Engine Market, by Engine System Type
- Dedicated Fuel
- Bi-fuel
- Dual Fuel
Flex Fuel Engine Market, by Sales Channel
Flex Fuel Engine Market, by Region
- North America
- Europe
- Germany
- France
- U.K.
- Italy
- Spain
- Russia & CIS
- Rest of Europe
- Asia Pacific
- China
- Japan
- India
- ASEAN
- Rest of Asia Pacific
- Latin America
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Rest of Latin America
- Middle East & Africa
- GCC
- South Africa
- Rest of Middle East & Africa