Toyota will reveal a prototype version of a flex-fuel-strong hybrid electric vehicle (FFV-SHEV) on August 29, 2023. It will be based on the Toyota Camry and will comply with the existing BS6 Phase-II emission norms.
While details are scarce at the moment, the upcoming flex-fuel version of the Toyota Camry is likely to be using 100% bio-ethanol fuel. It will also feature a strong hybrid system to generate around 40 per cent of the power requirements to drive the car.
According to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who will unveil this prototype version, the flex-fuel Camry will return a fuel efficiency of approximately 16-20 kmpl. Gadkari also revealed that the price of ethanol is Rs 60 per litre.
For those who aren’t aware, flex-fuel offers less fuel economy when compared to petrol (depending on the blend percentage). This is due to the lower energy content in ethanol. In contrast, ethanol has a higher octane number than gasoline, which helps in better acceleration performance.
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Benefits of flex-fuel vehicles
- The flex-fuel is actually a greener, renewable and more economical alternative to conventional fuels like petrol and diesel.
- It oxygenates the fuel it is blended with, therefore helps in controlling air pollution.
- Unlike fossil fuels, it is a renewable source of energy.
- Flex-fuel will also help in decreasing oil imports.
- Since ethanol is extracted from crops such as sugarcane molasses, rice, etc., it will boost the agriculture sector, thus boosting employment, especially in rural areas.
