The global ethanol-based vehicle market was valued at USD 612.70 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 673.97 billion in 2024 and from USD 144.71 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 10.0% from 2024 to 2032.
Ethanol vehicles, also known as dual-fuel vehicles or flex-fuel vehicles, are designed to run on either petrol or ethanol. They have an internal combustion engine (ICE) that has been modified to accommodate the different properties of these two fuels. The main components of an ethanol vehicle are the same as those in a conventional petrol-powered vehicle, including the battery, fuel tank, fuel line, fuel injection system, and exhaust system. However, the engine control module (ECM) in an ethanol vehicle is more sophisticated than that in a gasoline vehicle, as it needs to be able to adjust the fuel mixture and ignition timing depending on the type of fuel being used.
Ethanol-based vehicle market offers vehicles that can run on either petrol/diesel or ethanol. This gives the flexibility to choose the fuel that is more cost-effective at that time. This is especially attractive in countries like India, where ethanol is subsidized. In these countries, the government provides financial assistance to ethanol producers, which lowers the cost of ethanol for consumers. This makes ethanol a more affordable option for drivers, and it can also help to reduce the country's reliance on imported oil. At this point, though, the ethanol-based vehicle market is not in a fully operational state as most of the vehicles launched support only up to 20% of the total fuel capacity of the vehicle, and two-wheelers have the major market share in the ethanol-based vehicle market in India and the surrounding region.
Another driver for the demand for ethanol-based vehicles is that ethanol is also a lower-carbon fuel than petrol or diesel. This means that its use emits less greenhouse gas when it is burned. As a result, flex-fuel vehicles can help to reduce air pollution and soften the effects of climate change.
The cost-effective nature of ethanol-based vehicles and the environmental friendliness of the use of ethanol are the factors that drive the ethanol-based vehicle market size.
The biggest restraint for the ethanol-based vehicle market is a smaller number of ethanol fuel stations. Most of the countries in the world have a scarce number of ethanol fuel stations. This affects the market share of the ethanol-based vehicle market as drivers avoid buying these vehicles as it is difficult to find fuel stations.
One more constraint that the ethanol-based vehicle market is facing is the misunderstanding or miscommunication between users regarding the use of ethanol. Many users think that using ethanol can damage the internal components of the engine by corroding the parts. This has restricted the growth of the ethanol-based vehicle market in many regions.
Also, fluctuating prices of ethanol are a concern among users. The prices of ethanol vary a lot and thus can restrict many users to avoid using ethanol-based vehicles.
Hence, the number of fuel stations, misunderstandings amongst consumers regarding ethanol, and fluctuating prices of ethanol are the major factors that can limit the growth of the ethanol-based vehicle market.
The increasing awareness of the environmental impact of fossil fuels like petrol and diesel has led to a growing demand for alternative fuels. Ethanol is a renewable resource that can be produced from corn, sugarcane, or another biomass. This makes it a more sustainable option than petrol and diesel, which are non-renewable resources that produce greenhouse gases when burned.
The development of ethanol-based vehicles has undergone significant technological advancements in recent times. These advancements have made ethanol-based vehicles more efficient and affordable, which has increased their appeal to consumers.
Many governments have made it compulsory for vehicle manufacturers to make the vehicles compliant to flex fuel usage. For instance, in Brazil, all the new vehicles launched need to support the use of ethanol along with petrol and diesel. Also, in the United States, all the petrol being sold should contain 10% ethanol.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the ethanol-based vehicle market as the market share declined strikingly during the pandemic era. During the pandemic, the demand for ethanol-based vehicles decreased as the overall automobile industry was also facing issues. As ethanol-based vehicles are more expensive than traditional petrol or diesel-powered vehicles. Due to financial distress at all levels of society, consumers were not willing to spend more.
The disruption of the global supply chain due to the pandemic also had an effect on the ethanol-based vehicle market. Factory closures all over the world, shortage of raw material required for the production of ethanol-based vehicles, and also, delay in shipment of manufactured vehicles affected the market share.
Now, the ethanol-based vehicle market has not only to compete with traditional vehicles but also with electric vehicles, as the EV market share has seen a major rise during and after the pandemic.
REPORT METRIC |
DETAILS |
Market Size Available |
2023 to 2032 |
Base Year |
2023 |
Forecast Period |
2024 to 2032 |
CAGR |
10.0% |
Segments Covered |
By Type, Fuel Type, and Region. |
Various Analyses Covered |
Global, Regional & Country Level Analysis, Segment-Level Analysis, DROC, PESTLE Analysis, Porter’s Five Forces Analysis, Competitive Landscape, Analyst Overview of Investment Opportunities |
Regions Covered |
North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, Middle East & Africa |
Market Leaders Profiled |
AB Volvo, BMW AG, and Daimler AG, Deere & Company, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Company, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and Others. |
The trucks segment is leading the ethanol-based vehicle market with a higher market share than the cars segment. As the fuel consumption in trucks is a lot more as compared to cars, the fuel cost incurred will be reduced if ethanol is used. When compared to cars, the easy availability and amount of ethanol-based trucks is more and is increasing at a rapid pace.
The car segment is not growing in the ethanol-based vehicle market as the market share of the electric vehicles segment of cars is increasing and also, the technological advancements in traditional petrol-powered cars are more preferred by consumers.
The petrol segment is ruling the ethanol-based vehicle market with a higher market share than the diesel segment. As petrol engines are easier to modify to be able to run on ethanol and also, the overall market share of petrol has been way more than diesel for a long time.
The diesel segment has struggled in the ethanol-based vehicle market as diesel engines are more difficult to modify to run when powered by ethanol. Also, the environmental benefits that diesel has are less than those of petrol.
North America is the region that is leading the ethanol-based vehicle market. The United States is the largest producer and consumer of ethanol in the world, and it has a number of government regulations that promote the use of ethanol-based vehicles.
Latin America region holds the second position after North America with Brazil as the highest producer and consumer in the region. Also, Brazil is the world’s second-largest producer of ethanol.
Europe stands third in the list as the European Union has various rules and regulations for vehicle manufacturers regarding ethanol-compliant vehicle production.
Asia Pacific region is also growing at a steady pace. The production of ethanol in the region is also growing slowly.
AB Volvo, BMW AG, Daimler AG, Deere & Company, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Company, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Some of the market players dominate the global ethanol-based vehicle market.
By Type
By Fuel Type
By Region
Frequently Asked Questions
The Global Ethanol-Based Vehicle market is expected to grow with a CAGR of 10.0% between 2023-2028.
The Global Ethanol-Based Vehicle Market size is expected to reach a revised size of US$ 1000 billion by 2028.
AB Volvo, BMW AG, and Daimler AG are the three Ethanol-Based Vehicle Market key players.
Access the study in MULTIPLE FORMATS
Purchase options starting from $ 2500
Didn’t find what you’re looking for?
TALK TO OUR ANALYST TEAM
Need something within your budget?
NO WORRIES! WE GOT YOU COVERED!
Call us on: +1 888 702 9696 (U.S Toll Free)
Write to us: [email protected]
Reports By Region