Maruti Suzuki, Hero Launch India’s First Flex-Fuel Car, Bikes in Push for Ethanol Mobility
The move comes as the government continues to push ethanol adoption to reduce crude oil imports to save dollar reserves and reduce carbon emission.
Pune: Two automakers Maruti Suzuki and Hero MotoCorp, India’s biggest car and two-wheeler makers respectively, on Thursday introduced India’s first flex-fuel vehicles to reduce crude oil imports and carbon emission.
Maruti Wagon R is India’s first flex-fuel car, engineered specifically for ethanol-blended fuel compatibility, which gives the flexibility to customers to run on any blend of ethanol and petrol from E20 to E100 (20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol to 100 per cent pure ethanol).
Hero MotoCorp’s flex-fuel versions of the Splendor+ and HF Deluxe, became the first flex-fuel motorcycles in the 100-cc segment. The new motorcycles can run on ethanol-blended fuels ranging from E20 to E85, making them the first flex-fuel motorcycles in the 100-cc segment.
The move comes as the government continues to push ethanol adoption to reduce crude oil imports to save dollar reserves and reduce carbon emission.
Maruti Suzuki said it is introducing flex-fuel technology in the Wagon R, a favourite model that has long pioneered alternate fuel vehicles in the country, including CNG and LPG.
Hisashi Takeuchi, CEO and MD at Maruti Suzuki India, said, "We are committed to offer cars with multiple technologies and fuels." He said the company is introducing BEVs, Hybrids, CNG/CBG and ethanol flex-fuel vehicles to meet India's twin goals of reducing oil import and carbon emissions.
"The launch of the flex fuel-ready Splendor+ and HF Deluxe marks another important step in our commitment towards cleaner and sustainable mobility," said Harshavardhan Chitale, CEO, Hero MotoCorp.
"Developed at our Centre for Innovation & Technology (CIT) in Jaipur, these motorcycles underscore our commitment to delivering future-ready and locally relevant technologies,” he added.
Road Transport and Highways minister Nitin Gadkari said India imports a large quantity of crude oil every year, and biofuels like ethanol are an important pathway towards reducing this dependence while strengthening our rural economy.
"Flex-fuel vehicles can create a strong and sustainable demand for ethanol, benefiting our farmers, industry, and the environment together," Gadkari noted, adding other car makers would launch their flex-fuel models.
