Union Minister Nitin Gadkari unveil world’s first Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) compliant hybrid, Flex-Fuel Ethanol-Powered Car Unveiled in India.
As Ethanol is a renewable fuel that is made from the fermentation of sugars from plant materials.
The most common sources of ethanol are sugarcane, corn, and maize.
Ethanol can also be made from other plant materials, such as barley, wheat, and cassava.
Ethanol is a clean-burning fuel that produces fewer emissions than gasoline.
It is also a domestically produce fuel, which can help to reduce India’s dependence on import oil.
Indian Government is promoting the use of ethanol as a fuel and has set a target of blending 20% ethanol with gasoline by 2025.
The blending of ethanol with gasoline is known as flex-fuel technology.
Nitin Gadkari, speaking on the occasion, emphasize the government’s commitment towards encouraging environmentally friendly vehicles.
Nitin Gadkari said :
“India can reach 20% Ethanol blending within three months as our ethanol manufacturers have that capacity. India can become the world’s number 1 producer of ethanol,”
“My dream is to have all cars, two-wheelers, auto rickshaws running on 100% Ethanol”.
In 2022, Union minister launch a hydrogen-power car, the Toyota Mirai EV to promote alternative and green fuel energy.
Toyota Innova HyCross will be power by a hybrid powertrain that combines a petrol engine with an electric motor.
The 2.0-liter 4-cylinder petrol engine generates 181 bhp, providing a fuel efficiency of 23.24 kmpl.
The engine is pair with an e-CVT transmission.
The release date of the vehicle has not announce yet.
The hybrid powertrain is capable of delivering fuel efficiency of up to 28 kilometers per liter in the city and 35 kilometers per liter on the highway.
The Toyota Innova HyCross can also run on ethanol, which is a renewable fuel made from sugarcane.
Toyota Innova HyCross is equip with a number of features that make it a comfortable and safe car to drive.
These features include a seven-seater cabin, a touchscreen infotainment system, a reverse camera, and a parking assist system.
The BS6-compliant Toyota Innova HyCross was showcase at the Transport Bhawan in New Delhi, India.
This model, develop by Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) in collaboration with the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), is power by a combination of petrol and ethanol.
The hybrid, BS6 compliant Toyota Innova HyCross, runs on both petrol and ethanol and simply by switching a dial, one can alter the fueling choice.
This flexibility of fuel option is a highlight of this model.
The ethanol for this innovation is expect to be source from excess food grain and biomass, which practically makes it a renewable source of energy.
Means, it doesn’t just reduce a vehicle’s carbon footprint but also supports the agricultural economy.
Important Points
- Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on 29th August 2023 launch the world’s first prototype of BS-6 (Stage II) ‘electrified flex fuel vehicle’ develop by Toyota Kirloskar Motor in New Delhi.
- Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Mahendra Nath Pandey, MD & CEO of Toyota Masakazu Yoshimura, MD & CEO of Kirloskar Systems Limited Geetanjali Kirloskar, were also present at the occasion.
- The vehicle is based on the Innova Hycross and is engineer to adhere to India’s stricter emission standards.
- The forthcoming stages for this prototype encompasses meticulous refinement, homologation and certification processes.
- Ethanol being an indigenous, eco-friendly, and renewable fuel holds promising prospects for India.
- The emphasis of the Modi government on ethanol aligns with objectives of attaining energy self-sufficiency, doubling farmers’ income, transitioning them to Urjadata while continuing to support them as Annadata, and positively impacting the environment.
- The day ethanol economy becomes of 2 lakh crores agricultural growth rate will reach 20% from the current 12%.
