NEW DELHI: Union minister Nitin Gadkari today launched Japanese car maker Toyota's first-of-its-kind pilot project on flex fuel-strong hybrid electric vehicle (FFV-SHEV) that can run on 100 percent ethanol.

The Toyota Corolla Altis FFV-SHEV, which was imported from Toyota Brazil for the experimental project, was launched during the introduction.

Nitin Gadkari, the minister of road transport for the Union, said that pollution is a major issue in India and that the transportation industry is a contributor to it. Because of this, "there is a need to promote the usage of electric vehicles as well as vehicles that run on biofuels like ethanol and methanol." he said.

Along with Gadkari, senior Toyota Kirloskar Motor representatives and union ministers Mahendra Nath Pandey and Bhupinder Yadav were in attendance. Toyota Brazil has deployed flex fuel-powered hybrid electric car technology in Brazil.

An FFV-SHEV has a flex-fuel engine and an electric powertrain, which offers the twin benefits of increased ethanol consumption and improved fuel efficiency because it can operate for an extended amount of time in its EV mode, in which the engine is turned off. Vehicles that are flex-fuel compliant can run on a combination of different fuel types. Usually, a mixture of gasoline and ethanol or methanol is employed.

Since FFVs may use any of the higher ethanol blends, ranging from 20% to 100%, there is a greater chance to replace petrol with ethanol. In Canada, the United States, and Brazil, flex-fuel vehicles are available.

Globally, ethanol is a common alternative fuel, with Brazil having the highest average blending at 48%.

The Toyota Corolla Altis FFV-SHEV will be able to run on fuel with an ethanol blend of 20-100%.

The government is making an effort to promote the usage of alternate and green fuels. The government advised automakers to equip vehicles with flexible-fuel engines last year.

Gadkari introduced India's first advanced fuel cell electric car (FCEV), the Toyota Mirai, in March of this year. He said that this was a first-of-its-kind project in India that aimed to develop an ecosystem for such vehicles.
Vikram Kirloskar, vice chairman of Toyota Kirloskar, claimed that India has blended ethanol at a rate of 10% in the least amount of time and will reach 20% by 2025.

The next 40 days would be the most challenging for Delhi, according to Bhupendra Yadav, the Union Environment Minister, as a result of stubble burning in neighbouring states. By using machinery, we can manage 24 lakh tonnes of stubble this year, Yadav said. 

Gadkari added that for Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the agricultural growth rate must climb by 6 to 8%. He underlined the need of producing ethanol from excess sugar and grains in order to stimulate the rural economy.

Gadkari urged "Anndatas" to transform into "Urjadatas," saying that the success of this pilot project will build an ecosystem for electric cars and establish New India as a leader in the industry.

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