Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari will unveil a car running on 100% ethanol fuel on 29 August. The details of the car have not been revealed at the moment, but if media reports are to be believed then it could be Toyota's Innova or Camry.
According to PTI, Gadkari said at an event in Delhi, 'On August 29, I will launch Toyota's car based on flex fuel. This car will be a car running on 100% bioethanol. With this fuel, the car can generate 40% electricity for the hybrid system. He told that this car will be the world's first BS6 Phase-2 electrified flex-fuel car.
Gadkari said, 'This fuel can save the cost of importing petroleum. If we have to become self-sufficient, then we have to bring oil import to zero. At present, the country spends Rs 16 lakh crore on this, which is a big loss for our economy.
Gadkari said, 'Ethanol costs Rs 60 per liter and this car can give a mileage of 15 to 20 kmpl. This makes it far more economical than petrol, which currently retails at around Rs 120 per litre.
Gadkari is continuously promoting vehicles running on alternative fuel and green energy. Toyota's flex-fuel pilot project was flagged off by Nitin Gadkari last year, when the company introduced the Toyota Corolla Hybrid. After this, the Union Minister launched the Toyota Mirai, a hydrogen-powered car.
Apart from Toyota, Maruti is also working on flex-fuel vehicles. The company had showcased the Wagon R prototype at the Auto Expo in January this year. This car can run on 85% ethanol mix fuel.
