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.
