The Ethanol Driven Vehicle Project (EDVP) was initiated in 2006 after a cabinet directive in 2004 whose drive was to explore other sources of fuel for motor vehicles to contribute to economic development.
Ethanol is being used successfully as a vehicle fuel in other countries such as Brazil and USA.
In Malawi, the promotion of increased use of ethanol as an alternative fuel in motor vehicles is expected to contribute to energy self-sufficiency, socio-economic development and environmental protection.
The use of locally produced ethanol complements use of petrol thereby saving foreign exchange and reducing reliance on petroleum fuel. Ethanol produced from molasses and other biomass feedstock is classified as a renewable form of energy of which its use reduces emissions of greenhouse gases, carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter.
In addition, increased ethanol use has a positive net benefit on the economy through stabilizing fuel prices, reduced vehicle running costs, promotion of linkages between ethanol industry and other sectors such as agriculture and its contribution to poverty reduction.
In Malawi, the promotion of increased use of ethanol as an alternative fuel in motor vehicles is expected to contribute to energy self-sufficiency, socio-economic development and environmental protection. The use of locally produced ethanol complements use of petrol thereby saving foreign exchange and reducing reliance on petroleum fuel. Ethanol produced from molasses and other
biomass feedstock is classified as a renewable form of energy of which its use reduces emissions of greenhouse gases, carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter.
In addition, increased ethanol use has a positive net benefit on the economy through stabilizing fuel prices, reduced vehicle running costs, promotion of linkages between ethanol industry and other sectors such as agriculture and its contribution to poverty reduction.
The current total ethanol production is 18 million litres per year which meets the current demand for ethanol use as vehicle fuel and other requirements. This quantity is however inadequate to meet future ethanol requirements due to increased blending of ethanol with petrol, changes in technology due to use of flexi vehicles and projected increase in vehicle population.
Ethanol is handled in the same way as petrol (both are classified in Class 1category of Fire Risk Classification), hence existing infrastructure is capable of storing, handling, transporting and marketing of increased ethanol/ petrol blends and pure ethanol. Additional infrastructure such storage tanks will however be necessary to promote increased use of ethanol.
Existing human resource capacity for vehicle modifications and installation of conversion kits is inadequate. Therefore, there will be need to build capacity for vehicle modifications and installation of conversion kits as more vehicles will run on ethanol.
The use of ethanol increased engine torque hence allows vehicles to be driven in high gear when ascending steep slopes and resulted in reduced vehicle fuel running costs. Without use of conversion kits, the use of ethanol resulted in increased acceleration time, reduced maximum speed, hard start during cold weather and erratic idling. However, performance of all these variables improved after the installation of conversion kit. Therefore, increased use of ethanol would positively impact on vehicle performance.
The internal engine components showed no negative indicators such as corrosion, abnormal wear, tear and abrasion. Valve seals, plugs and tappets were in good working condition; and oil was not contaminated (indicating complete combustion of ethanol). Therefore, the use of pure ethanol did not have any adverse effects on the engine parts.
Modifications required for the carburettor vehicles to run on ethanol include increasing carburettor jets, advancing ignition points, replacing ordinary plugs with high performance plugs and ordinary fuel filter with ethanol compliant filter. Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) vehicles run on pure ethanol without any modifications but require use of conversion kits to improve performance.
Appropriate regulations, procedures and standards are already in place for the effective production, transportation, handling, marketing and use of ethanol. However, there is need to enforce compliance with regulations, procedures and standards.
The following recommendations have been made for policy consideration to promote increased ethanol use:
