NATIONAL: 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, a 100 percent Ethanol-fueled car in New Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Gadkari said Ethanol, being an indigenous, eco-friendly, and renewable fuel, holds promising prospects for India. Also, today is a historic day for the country by launching the world’s first BS-VI (Stage-II), electrified flex-fuel vehicle. He said that to make India a self-reliant country, there is a need to bring oil imports to zero.

He said the emphasis of the 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.

In a Government release, He also said the day the ethanol economy becomes 2 lakh crores, the agricultural growth rate will reach 20% from the current 12%. Talking about innovations in biofuels, Gadkari spoke of the refinery in Numaligarh in Assam of Indian Oil Corporation, where bamboo is being used for manufacturing bioethanol.

Nitin Gadkari also conveyed 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.