Now you will have to pay half the price of petrol | Flex Fuel

In order to combat carbon emissions, India will soon have two-wheelers and cars that solely use flex-fuel, an ethanol-based fuel, as opposed to electric vehicles. Nitin Gadkari, a Union Minister, announced on Sunday that ethanol-powered cars will soon be available in the nation, beginning with the Toyota Camry, which will be on sale in August of this year. 

Gadkari reiterated the necessity of having vehicles that can run on alternate fuels in addition to electric vehicles while addressing an audience in Nagpur in order to reduce pollution and reliance on pricey fossil fuels like petrol and diesel.

Shift towards Ethanol-Powered Vehicles

During a gathering in Nagpur, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari unveiled ambitious plans to introduce vehicles that will solely operate on ethanol as fuel. Gadkari's announcement came after a conversation with the chairman of Mercedes Benz, who revealed the company's future focus on manufacturing electric vehicles exclusively.

Ethanol-Powered Scooters and Toyota Camry Car

Highlighting the transition to cleaner fuel alternatives, Gadkari stated, "We are bringing new vehicles that will run entirely on ethanol. Bajaj, TVS, and Hero scooters will run 100 per cent on ethanol." 

Furthermore, the minister announced the upcoming introduction of the Toyota Camry car in August, which will operate solely on ethanol and generate 40 per cent electricity. Gadkari emphasized the cost advantage of ethanol, with prices at ₹60 per litre compared to ₹120 per litre for petrol, resulting in an average price equivalent to ₹15 per litre.

Addressing Driver Shortage and Implementation Timeline

Gadkari also addressed the issue of driver shortage in India, leading to truckers working long hours, sometimes up to 14-16 hours per day. While highlighting that other countries have regulations in place to limit truckers' duty hours, the minister did not specify a specific deadline for the introduction of air-conditioned cabins in trucks. However, reports suggest that the rollout is anticipated to commence in 2025.

By promoting the use of ethanol-powered vehicles and ensuring driver comfort through air-conditioned cabins, Nitin Gadkari aims to drive positive changes in India's transportation sector, fostering sustainability and improved working conditions for truck drivers.