NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari on Sunday announced the government’s plans for the introduction of vehicles that are able to run solely on ethanol.
Speaking at an event in Nagpur, Gadkari said that a Toyota Camry that runs on ethanol will be launched by him in August, while scooters from major Indian brands will run exclusively on ethanol.
The Union minister disclosed that during his recent meeting with the chairman of Mercedes Benz, the company chairman had informed him that the company is intent on manufacturing only electric cars in the future.
It is a fact that electric vehicles made by Mercedes have already been launched in the market and the German company is aiming to garner a good share of the market in the future.
Gadkari said that the government is focusing on vehicles that need not use petrol and will run only on ethanol, the cheaper alternative.
The minister added that Bajaj, TVS, and Hero scooters will run on 100 per cent ethanol.
Nitin Gadkari further said that he will be launching Toyota Camry, a car which will run 100 per cent on ethanol, in August of this year. The car is also designed to generate 40 per cent electric power, he added.
During the event, the minister reiterated the need for India to switch over to alternative and greener fuels, leaving fossil fuels behind in the process. He explained that ethanol-powered vehicles not only leave fewer emissions, but they are also cost-effective. The cost of ethanol is also less at Rs 60 per litre, as compared to petrol, which is priced at Rs 120 per litre, the minister said, thus making it an option that is viable and environmental- friendly.
India produces Ethanol from molasses, a by-product of the sugar industry. Moreover, farm waste and food grains can also be used to make it. Achievement of multiple benefits is being aimed at by the government by bringing ethanol-burning vehicles to the mainstream. By increasing the consumption of ethanol, it is also expected that the agriculture sector in the country will benefit.
With the whole world relying more on alternative fuels to cut down on consumption of the fast- depleting stocks on fossil fuels and bring respite to the environment, India is expected to follow suit.
Gadkari has recently stressed on the need for improved working conditions for truck drivers. Towards this aim, on June 20, he announced that air conditioning in truck driver cabins is being made mandatory. Gadkari had expressed his concern for the truck drivers’ well-being at an auto industry event, saying they operate vehicles in harsh temperatures, which can range anywhere from 43 to 47 degrees Celsius.
The transport minister’s announcements reflect an important step towards promotion of cleaner energy sources, while addressing the challenges faced by the country’s transportation sector.
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