New Delhi: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari launched the world’s first prototype of the BS 6 Stage II ‘Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle’, developed by Toyota Kirloskar Motor here today.
An Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle has both a Flexi Fuel engine and an electric powertrain. This gives it the ability to provide the dual benefit of higher ethanol use and much higher fuel efficiency as is in the case of a Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle (SHEV), which can provide 30-50% higher fuel efficiency as it can run 40-60% in electric vehicle (EV) mode with the engine shut off.
Gadkari said this innovative vehicle is based on the Innova Hycross and is engineered to adhere to India’s stricter emission standards, marking it as the first-ever BS 6 (Stage II) Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle prototype globally. He said the forthcoming stages for this prototype encompass meticulous refinement, homologation, and certification processes.
Elaborating on this, the Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, said that this initiative by Toyota is particularly important as it introduces the world’s first BS 6 (Stage II) Electrified Flex Fuel vehicle prototype, which has both the flex fuel engine as well as an electric powertrain, thereby offering higher use of ethanol combined with better fuel efficiencies.
Noting that ethanol is an indigenous, eco-friendly, and renewable fuel, Gadkari said it holds promising prospects for India. He pointed out that the emphasis of the Government on ethanol aligns with objectives of attaining energy self-sufficiency, doubling farmers’ income, transitioning them to Urjadata (energy provider) while continuing to support them as Annadata (food provider), and positively impacting the environment.
Gadkari said the day the ethanol economy reaches Rs. 2 lakh crores, the agricultural growth rate will reach 20% from the current 12%. Talking about innovations in biofuels he spoke of a refinery in Numaligarh in Assam of Indian Oil Corporation where bamboo is being used for manufacturing bioethanol.
Highlighting the potential of Flex Fuel Vehicle Technologies in the energy and automobile industry, Puri said that these vehicle technologies provide an opportunity for greater substitution of petrol by ethanol as it is capable of using any of the higher blends of ethanol mix beyond 20%. He said that India has huge ethanol potential, much beyond the E20 mix. This excess potential can be utilised by the country by promoting Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) and Flex Fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle (FFV-SHEV) / Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicles, he said.
Union Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey, the managing director and chief executive officer of Toyota, Masakazu Yoshimura, the managing director and chief executive officer of Kirloskar Systems Limited, Geetanjali Kirloskar, Ambassador, Diplomats from Japan Embassy, higher officials and advisors were present during the launch in New Delhi today.
– global bihari bureau
