Nitin Gadkari launches world's first BS 6 stage II electrified Flex fuel vehicle made by Toyota

The aim of launching the prototype is to reduce carbon footprint and decrease the country's dependency on traditional fuel sources.

Speaking on the occasion, Nitin Gadkari said government's plan is not only to diversify agriculture surpluses towards the energy sector but also to generate wealth from waste using 2G technology for producing ethanol from bio-waste.

"Today is a historic day as the world's first BS-VI (Stage-II), electrified flex-fuel vehicle is launched which can function fully on ethanol-based fuel," he said.

Raising concern over the pollution emitted by vehicles, the Minister said, "The country needs to undertake more sustainable and stringent measures to curb pollution".

He stressed that the country has to reduce its dependence on oil imports in order to become self-reliant.

Highlighting the importance of ethanol blended fuel, he said, "The country’s agriculture sector will witness growth with the adoption of this move, and it will generate lots of job opportunities."

Gadkari said 40 percent of pollution comes from the transport sector which is a major concern for the country.

The Minister said that the country needs to undertake more sustainability measures in order to curb pollution... adding that with the ethanol blending India's Agricultural growth will rise from 12 percent to 20 percent".

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri who was also present at the event said that with the implementation of 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol, the country will save 35 thousand crore rupees annually as an import bill.

Puri added that India has achieved 10 percent of ethanol blending five months in advance of the initial target of 2022.

He also underlined that the country is aiming to forge a partnership for the International Biofuel Alliance.

"With E20 (Ethanol blending 20 percent) implementation by April 25 expected important bill savings may be around Rs 35,000 crore annually," Puri said.

He added that this will further contribute to reducing GHG emissions by 21 million metric tonnes and PM 2.5 emissions up to 14 percent than gasoline".

Speaking at the launch, Union Minister for Heavy Industries Mahendra Nath Pandey said the ethanol blending process has helped the farmers earn 82 thousand crores rupees so far and the country’s import bill has been reduced.

"Allying with the Prime Minister's vision to achieve net zero by 2070, biofuel will play a major role in it," he added.

Notably, in the recent past, the Ethanol mix in petrol in India has gone up from 1.53 percent in 2013-14 to 11.5 percent in March 2023.

Flex fuel is a technology that allows an engine to utilise ethanol-blended petrol or gasoline beyond 20 percent.