Synopsis

Union minister Nitin Gadkari has said a car that runs entirely on ethanol, with no petrol needed at all, will launch in October. He said the running cost would work out equal to a petrol car using fuel priced at around Rs 25 a litre. Gadkari made the remarks while defending the government's ethanol blending policy and linking it to farmer income.

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Nitin Gadkari says a 100% ethanol car that doesn't need petrol will run as cheap as petrol priced at Rs 25 a litre.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said a car running entirely on ethanol will launch in October, adding that the vehicle will not need petrol at all. Speaking at an event in Delhi, Gadkari said the running cost of this car would work out equal to a petrol car using fuel priced at around Rs 25 a litre.

Gadkari made the announcement while responding to criticism around the government's E20 ethanol blending policy, which has been debated in Parliament and on social media in recent months over its impact on vehicle engines.

What did Union Minister Gadkari say about the new 100% ethanol car

Gadkari said he has been invited for the launch of Toyota's Innova flex-fuel car in October, a version built to run on 100 per cent ethanol instead of petrol. He claimed the car would also generate 60 per cent electricity while running.

"Ethanol is being used in 19 countries in the world and today no complaint is coming from any vehicle in India. In October, I have been invited for the launch of Toyota's Innova car that will run on 100 per cent flex fuel," Gadkari said, as quoted by Business Today.

Complaints about ethanol blended fuel

Gadkari said no complaints have come in from vehicles running on ethanol blended fuel in India so far. His comments come at a time when E20 petrol has drawn concern from sections of the public and lawmakers over its effect on fuel efficiency and engine performance.

The government has previously said it has not received widespread or confirmed complaints from vehicle manufacturers, automobile associations or consumer groups regarding E20's impact on mileage, engine health or maintenance costs. It has cited laboratory studies and field trials on engine durability and material compatibility to support this position.

What about other flex-fuel vehicles in India

Toyota's ethanol only Innova is not the first such vehicle planned for India. In June, Maruti Suzuki launched the country's first flex-fuel passenger car. Flex-fuel vehicles are designed to run on ethanol-petrol blends ranging from E20 up to pure ethanol, giving owners flexibility depending on fuel availability.

Bike taxis get a push too

Alongside the ethanol announcement, Gadkari also pushed for wider use of bike taxi services, saying app-based platforms could give two-wheeler owners an extra source of income without needing fresh investment. He said state transport ministers have been asked to open up this option for people in villages who already own two-wheelers, claiming it could create employment for crores of people if adopted across states.

The background to India's ethanol push

At a separate event launching Madhya Pradesh's new public bus service, he had made similar remarks, saying ethanol was turning farmers into "urja data" or energy providers and citing a jump in maize prices after ethanol production began. He has repeatedly pushed for flex-fuel, electric and hydrogen vehicles as alternatives to petrol and diesel.

Ethanol has become a heavily discussed topic in India because of the E20 blending policy, which mixes 20 per cent ethanol into petrol and has drawn concern in Parliament and on social media over its effect on vehicle mileage and engine health.

Inputs from Agencies.

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