Today, Toyota India launched its new pilot project for its Flex Fuel Strong-Hybrid Electric Vehicle (FFV-SHEV) which was flagged off by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari. A left-hand drive (LHD) Corolla Altis hybrid sedan will be used for this project, which is capable of running on 100% petrol or 20-100% on blended ethanol. It also gets drive assistance from the strong hybrid system.
The primary objective of this pilot project is to study and promote the use of flex fuels in the country.
Also Read: Toyota Mirai To Be Used For FCEV Pilot Study Project
Automobiles are one of the biggest contributors to the rising emissions, so it’s high time for them to reduce their carbon footprints. In order to achieve this, electric and flex-fuel-powered cars must be introduced in the mainstream market. Generally, flex-fuel vehicles emit fewer emissions than regular gasoline-powered vehicles. Also, ethanol is a renewable fuel that costs cheaper than petrol. It can be derived from corn grain, crop residues, wood chips, or sugar cane.
The flex-fuel engines are slightly more expensive than regular engines. Nevertheless, their large-scale use will reduce our dependence on imported crude, thereby increasing our economic prosperity and boosting agriculture, leading to job opportunities in rural areas.
Aside from Toyota, Maruti Suzuki is also working on E85-compliant flex-fuel engines.
