(a) whether the Government proposes to introduce flex-fuel vehicles in the country to ease the burden on regular fuel like diesel and petrol;
(b) if so, the detail thereof and the time by which the vehicles running on alternative fuel are likely to hit the roads; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to encourage green hydrogen as an alternative fuel and if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) and (b) Ministry of Heavy Industries'' Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Automobile & Auto Components incentivises the Auto OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) to accelerate the introduction of Flex Fuel vehicles in India. The following auto components of Flex Fuel Engine (capable of running upto Ethanol 85 (E85) Fuel) have been included in the list of Advanced Automotive Technology components as eligible products for incentivisation under this scheme:-
i. BS6 compliant Flex Fuel Engine capable of running upto Ethanol 85 (E85) fuel
ii. Heated Fuel Rail for Flex Fuel Engine
iii. Heating Element for Flex Fuel Engine
iv. Heating control Unit for Flex Fuel Engine
v. Electronic Control Unit (ECU) for Flex Fuel Engine (Processor minimum 32 bits) and
vi. Ethanol sensor for Flex Fuel Engine
Flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) have an internal combustion engine and are capable of operating on gasoline and blend of gasoline and ethanol. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified G.S.R. 682 (E) dated 12/07/2016 regarding mass emission standard for flex-fuel (E 85) or (E 100) vehicles.
(c) Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified G.S.R. 889(E) dated 16th September, 2016, for use of Hydrogen as an automotive fuel in the country. The specifications for Hydrogen for Internal Combustion Engine have been specified in Annexure IV-W of the said notification. 18% blend of Hydrogen with CNG (HCNG) has been notified by this Ministry vide G.S.R. 585(E) dated 25th September, 2020. The Ministry vide G.S.R. 579(E) dated 23rd September, 2020 has notified safety norms regarding hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and its components.
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