'100% Ethanol-Run Cars Will Soon Run On Indian Roads': Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, shared today that 100% ethanol or flex engine cars will soon be running on the Indian roads. 

Gadkari arrived at the Parliament in a Toyota vehicle.

He mentioned, "This is the world's first vehicle with a flex engine that complies with Euro 6 emission norms and produces net zero emissions. It runs on ethanol from sugarcane juice, molasses, and corn."

Gadkari announced that after Toyota pledged to invest Rs 20,000 crore in manufacturing flex cars in Maharashtra, Toyota plans mass production and establishing a plant in Aurangabad, Maharashtra for this purpose.

Tatas, Suzuki, Bajaj, TVS, and Hero are also working on producing ethanol or flex-engine vehicles.

The Union Road Minister stated that he's overseeing an import of Rs 16 lakh crores so manufacturers can work on bringing flex or ethanol engines. He added that farmers will now have ethanol pumps instead of diesel ones. 

Gadkari said, "Such vehicles will reduce pollution, save costs, and benefit farmers... This vehicle works on 100% ethanol..."

In August last year, Nitin Gadkari unveiled a 100% ethanol-powered car prototype by Toyota Kirloskar Motors. The car could cover 40% of its distance on ethanol and 60% on electric power, with the petrol engine shut off. 

Social Media Reaction:

Interestingly, Gadkari, one of the popular leaders of the ruling government, is facing criticism from online users. The water-logged roads caused by heavy rainfall this year have led people to turn against their once-popular politician.

One user wrote, "We also need an India 6 standard vehicle which can sense potholes and fly over it, can sense broken bridges fly over it, clogged with water and fly over it, can avoid unruly drivers, sense the traffic in city and fly over them. Nopes, flying car is atleast 25year away."

Another user commented, "Ethanol based car are able to deduct potholes, broken bridges, broken roads, deep and large depressions on the road and fly over it."

A third user replied, "Yeah, its happening... I knew it.. electric is obsolete"