Gadkari came to Parliament in a similar vehicle produced by Toyota and while talking to the media said, “This is the world’s first vehicle which has a flex engine and complies with emission norms of Euro 6. It gives net zero emissions. Runs on ethanol produced from sugarcane juice, molasses, and corn.”
Recently, Toyota has announced for setting up of a plant to produce flex cars in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, with an investment of Rs 20,000 crore. Gadkari says Tatas and Suzuki are also working on producing 100 per cent ethanol or flex engine cars.
In the two-wheeler segment Bajaj, TVS and Hero are making flex-engine bikes and scooters.
“Other manufacturers are also working on bringing a flex engine. Just like petrol pumps, our farmers will now have ethanol pumps. We have an import of Rs 16 lakh crores. Such vehicles will reduce pollution, save costs, and benefit farmers… This vehicle works on 100% ethanol…” said Gadkari.
Earlier in August 2023, Nitin Gadkari unveiled the prototype of a 100 per cent ethanol-run Bharat Stage (BS)-VI-compliant electrified flex-fuel car, developed by Toyota Kirloskar Motors.Now the prototype cars are ready for mass production by Toyota, which has announced setting up a plant in Aurangabad, Maharashtra for this.The prototype car unveiled in August 2023, was such a 100 per cent ethanol (E100) based car, of model Toyota Innova HyCross. The then-unveiled car can cover 40 per cent of its distance on ethanol and the remaining 60 per cent on electric, with the petrol engine shut off.
While flex-fuel vehicles have been introduced internationally before, and Toyota launched a flex-fuel version of its Corolla in 2022. But now India is ready to produce India’s BS-VI emission standards-compliant flex-fuel vehicles.
Gadkari said, “The ethanol industry is a boon for farmers, with the demand for ethanol set to increase, reshaping India’s agricultural economy.”
“Flex cars will be a boon for farmers. Ethanol is swadeshi and farmers will reap all its benefits. Like petrol pumps ethanol pumps will be there” Gadkari added.
