Nitin Gadkari Launches Toyota’s Pilot Project On Flex-fuel Strong-hybrid Car

A left-hand drive (LHD) Corolla Altis Hybrid was used to flag off the pilot project

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, launched Toyota’s pilot project on flex-fuel strong-hybrid electric vehicles recently. A left-hand drive (LHD) Corolla Altis Hybrid was used to flag off the event. 

A flex-fuel strong-hybrid car would run on either 100 per cent petrol or 20 to 100 per cent blended 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 percent ethanol and the rest petrol.

Reason For Introduction Of 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-powered cars to the mainstream buyers. As you all know, 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.

Launching the pilot project, Gadkari stated 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. 

Definition Of 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 things. A flex-fuel engine can run on either standalone or blended fuel.

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Toyota’s Other Pilot Study

The Union government and Toyota had also joined hands in early 2022 to carry out a pilot study on hydrogen-powered cars in the country and their possible introduction in our market. The minister had been caught riding in the hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai which can cover around 650km on a single tank of hydrogen.