Govt eyes isobutanol blending with diesel for cleaner fuel

The ministry has asked ARAI to study 10% blended fuel use in various diesel vehicles

- Subhash Narayan

First, the Centre is considering a plan to introduce new-generation vehicles with flex-fuel engines that run on various combinations of diesel and isobutanol, a biofuel derived from ethanol, two people aware of the matter said.

The new diesel engines would operate on the same principle as flex-fuel engines that use varying blends of petrol and ethanol and may even be able to run entirely on isobutanol.

Several automakers are expected to launch two-wheelers, three-wheelers and small commercial vehicles based on these flex-fuel engines, which can use one or more fuel types and are said to reduce consumption of fossil fuels and cut carbon emissions.

The ministry of road transport and highways has asked the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to study whether vehicles can run on diesel blended with isobutanol.