Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, launch Toyota’s pilot project on flex-fuel strong-hybrid electric vehicles recently. A left-hand drive (LHD) Corolla Altis Hybrid was use to flag off the event.
A flex-fuel strong-hybrid car would run on either 100% petrol or 20% to 100% blend ethanol; and of course it will have assistance from the hybrid system as well.
By 2025, government mandates will require carmakers to offer cars capable of running on a flex fuel that comprises 20% ethanol and the rest petrol.
What is Flex-fuel?
Flex-fuels refer to a blend of petrol and ethanol (or methanol) and will be cheaper than petrol.
Ethanol, commonly known as biofuel, is a pure form of alcohol made from sugarcane molasses, bamboo, among other many things.
A flex-fuel engine can run on either standalone or blend fuel.
Why to Introduction Flex-fuel Vehicles?
With the automobile industry being a significant contributor to the rising emissions in India, it’s more important than ever that carmakers start focussing on reducing their carbon footprint.
One of ways of achieving this is by introducing flex-fuel-power cars to the mainstream customers.
As flex fuel cars cause less emissions than a standard vehicle which runs on regular fuel and the fuel alternative is also much cheaper than petrol.
Nitin Gadkari said that carmakers can manufacture flex-fuel vehicles in India so as to provide a boost to the rural economy by converting surplus foodgrain and sugar into ethanol.
The Union government and Toyota had also join hands in early 2022 to carry out a pilot study on hydrogen-power cars in the country and their possible introduction in our market.
Nitin Gadkari had caught riding in the hydrogen-power Toyota Mirai which can cover around 650km on a single tank of hydrogen.
