Key highlights
- Mahindra is building E30-compatible flex fuel engines for upcoming SUVs
- Engines will feature ethanol sensors, heated injectors, and corrosion-resistant materials
- Flex fuel tech aligns with India’s ethanol roadmap targeting E30 by 2030
Mahindra is gearing up to future-proof its SUV lineup with a new generation of flex fuel engines designed to run on E30-rated petrol and beyond. As India accelerates its ethanol blending targets, Mahindra is taking a proactive stance by engineering powertrains that can handle higher ethanol content without compromising performance or durability.
The move comes as part of Mahindra’s broader strategy to align with the government’s push for cleaner fuels, while also ensuring its vehicles remain compliant and competitive in a rapidly evolving market.
What makes a Flex Fuel engine different?
Running on E30 isn’t just about tweaking the ECU. Ethanol has a higher ignition temperature and is more corrosive than petrol, which means Mahindra’s engines need serious reengineering. Key upgrades include:
- Ethanol content sensors for real-time fuel blend detection
- Fuel rail and injector heaters to improve cold-start reliability
- Corrosion-resistant materials like stainless steel, anodized aluminium, and specialized polymers for fuel tanks, lines, and injectors
- Recalibrated ECUs to adjust spark timing, fuel injection, and air-fuel ratios based on ethanol concentration
These changes will allow Mahindra’s flex fuel engines to adapt seamlessly to varying ethanol blends, from E20 all the way up to E85, depending on future fuel availability.
What models will get it?
While Mahindra hasn’t confirmed specific models yet, the tech is expected to debut in next-gen SUVs built on the NU_IQ modular platform, which supports petrol, diesel, hybrid, and electric powertrains. The XUV300 flex fuel prototype, showcased at the 2024 Bharat Mobility Expo, used a modified 1.2L turbo-petrol engine and delivered the same output i.e. 110 hp and 200 Nm even on ethanol blends.
Expect future versions of the Scorpio, Thar, and XUV700 to adopt flex fuel tech, especially as Mahindra expands its global footprint and prepares for stricter emission norms.
Challenges ahead
Ethanol’s lower energy density means fuel economy could drop by 15–30% compared to pure petrol. Mahindra will need to balance performance and efficiency through smart calibration. There’s also the cost factor—upgraded components and materials will push up production costs, which could reflect in pricing.
Still, with the government targeting E30 rollout by 2030, Mahindra’s early investment could pay off in long-term compliance and customer trust.
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