Mr. Nitin Gadkari launched Ethanol-Powered Toyota Innova

The first totally ethanol-powered vehicle with a flex-fuel engine has been unveiled by Toyota Motor. On August 29, a ceremony attended by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari saw the official launch of this model, which is based on the well-known MPV Innova HyCross.

Surprisingly, the electrified flex-fuel Innova HyCross not just uses alternative fuel but can also produce its own electric power and function in EV mode. The Toyota Innova HyCross flex-fuel MPV has been intricately crafted to function solely using ethanol – an eco-friendly fuel sourced from plants, classified as E100. What sets it further apart is its integration of a cutting-edge lithium-ion battery pack. This battery not only offers ample power but also facilitates the vehicle's ability to run in electric-only mode (EV mode). While the excitement for this innovation builds, the release date for the production version of the electrified Innova HyCross flex-fuel remains eagerly anticipated, though unconfirmed.

Speaking of significant modifications, the MPV's hybrid version sold in the Indian market is slightly different from the flex-fuel version of the Innova HyCross. The Innova HyCross hybrid, on the other hand, has a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder petrol engine that produces 181 horsepower and achieves a fuel economy of 23.24 km/l. The gearbox used with this engine is an e-CVT.

Nitin Gadkari, a union minister, has constantly pushed for the use of alternative fuels as a way to reduce the pricey importation of crude oil, which is refined to create conventional fuels like petrol and diesel. The adoption of alternative fuels aims to reduce pollution, which will, in turn, lower India's carbon emissions. "Vehicular pollution contributes to 40% of pollution in our nation," Gadkari emphasised during the event. Vehicle pollutants significantly harm Delhi inhabitants.

Toyota Motor introduced the Mirai, India's first all-hydrogen electric vehicle, in March of that same year as part of a joint pilot project with the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT). One of the world's first hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, the Toyota Mirai FCEV runs entirely on electricity produced from pure hydrogen. It is acknowledged as a true zero-emission car because only water is released from its tailpipe.

Want more of the world of automotive–check out the social media pages of GoMotoring. Connect anywhere, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.