The ethanol conversion kits are designed to allow older BS4 and BS6 vehicles to operate as flex-fuel vehicles, enabling them to run on higher ethanol blends like E20, E30, E85 and E100. To validate this technology in India, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) initially imported kits from Finland and partnered with IIT Delhi for comprehensive testing. These trials were highly successful; a BS4 Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire equipped with a conversion kit ran for 5,000 to 10,000 kilometers without experiencing any engine damage or compatibility issues.
While importing these kits currently incurs heavy duties, manufacturing them locally is expected to bring the consumer price down to a much more accessible range of ₹15,000 to ₹20,000. This local production could be facilitated through joint ventures or technology collaborations between Indian vendors and established kit manufacturers from countries like the United States and Brazil.
Ultimately, depending on government regulatory approvals, the establishment of BIS standards, and further testing by automotive research institutions, these locally manufactured conversion kits could potentially hit the market within 6 to 12 months. This will make life easier for budget conscious consumers looking to save their fuel injected vehicles from Ethanol damage which happens slowly over a long period of time.
Video Source https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42H_GiRSt4I
