New Delhi. Union Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari is all set to launch the country’s first ethanol-powered car today. The flex-fuel model of the Toyota Innova is capable of running entirely on 100% ethanol. What makes ethanol particularly remarkable is that it is not sourced from oil wells, but from farmers’ fields. In addition, it contributes in reducing the pollution level as compared to petrol and diesel.
Nitin Gadkari has also emphasized that in the coming days, the price of petrol can be reduced by up to Rs 15 per liter due to the use of ethanol. The Government of India is currently working on a plan to introduce 20% ethanol blending with petrol. Under the E20 initiative, the target is to launch petrol with 20% ethanol blending across the country by 2025-2026.
During the financial year 2021-22, the Government of India imported 86% of its energy requirements. On 11 July 2023, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced that E20 petrol is currently available at 1,350 petrol pumps and will be made available across the country by 2025. The introduction of ethanol-powered vehicles and the E20 initiative is a significant step towards reducing dependence on fossil fuels and curbing pollution. Government’s efforts to promote ethanol as an alternative fuel source are in line with its commitment towards sustainable energy solutions and environmental protection
