On August 29, 2023, Nitin Gadkari, the Union Road Transport & Highways Minister, will unveil the Ethanol-powered Toyota Innova MPV, making it the world’s first electrified flex-fuel car to adhere to BSVI stage 2 emission standards.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari himself made the announcement during the Mint Sustainability Summit. He stated, “On August 29, I’m going to launch the popular (Toyota) Innova car on 100% ethanol.” The Toyota Innova has been specifically modified to operate on 100% Ethanol, aligning with the Union Minister’s call for mainstream automakers to introduce alternative fuel-based passenger cars and electric vehicles.
Notably, last year, he introduced the Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle in India, and the upcoming fiscal year 2024-25 promises significant developments in the passenger EV sector. He added that his interest in biofuels developed back to 2004 when there was a significant increase in gasoline prices. During that time, he traveled to Brazil to gain in-depth knowledge. He explained that biofuels have the capability to yield impressive results and substantially decrease the foreign exchange expenses linked to petroleum imports.
He expressed the view that biofuels have the potential to achieve remarkable outcomes and contribute to substantial forex savings that are currently being used for petroleum imports. With the aim of establishing a self-sustained industry, Gadkari intends to offset the current Rs. 16 lakh crore expenditure on oil imports. The Ethanol-powered Toyota Innova is set to become the world’s first electrified flex-fuel car to comply with BSVI stage 2 emission standards.
He further pointed out that several road projects, with a combined value of around Rs. 65,000 crore, are expected to be completed by the conclusion of this calendar year. This includes the development of the Dwarka Expressway. He also highlighted the adverse impacts of chemical fertilizers and pesticides while underlining the importance on environment preservation.
Notably, the Indian automotive sector has witnessed the introduction of strong hybrid vehicles such as the Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Innova Hycross, Maruti Suzuki Invicto, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, and Honda City Hybrid. Domestic manufacturers like Mahindra and Tata are actively working to launch an array of zero-emission vehicles within the next two to three years.