100% Ethanol Vehicles Could Transform India’s Auto Fuel Economy

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that a car running entirely on ethanol could bring its fuel cost down to an equivalent of around Rs 25 per litre, as India steps up efforts to promote alternative fuels.

Gadkari said Toyota’s 100 per cent ethanol-powered Innova is scheduled to be launched in October and will be designed to operate without petrol.

Speaking at an event here, the minister said the vehicle’s running cost would be comparable to that of a petrol-powered car using fuel priced at around Rs 25 per litre.

Gadkari said he had been invited to the October launch of Toyota’s Innova flex-fuel vehicle, which is designed to operate on 100 per cent ethanol rather than conventional petrol. He also claimed that the vehicle would 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,” Gadkari said, as quoted by Business Today.

The proposed vehicle comes amid an ongoing debate over India’s E20 ethanol-blending policy, under which petrol can contain up to 20 per cent ethanol. The policy has faced questions from sections of the public and lawmakers over its potential impact on vehicle mileage, engine performance and long-term maintenance.

Gadkari said no complaints had been received from vehicles using ethanol-blended fuel in India. The government has also maintained that 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.

The government has cited laboratory studies and field trials examining engine durability and material compatibility in support of the ethanol-blending programme.

Toyota’s proposed ethanol-only Innova is part of broader efforts by automakers to introduce flex-fuel vehicles in the Indian market. In June, Maruti Suzuki launched what was described as the country’s first flex-fuel passenger car.

Flex-fuel vehicles can operate on a range of ethanol-petrol blends, from E20 to pure ethanol, allowing them to use different fuel compositions depending on availability.

The push towards higher ethanol use is aimed at expanding alternative fuel options while reducing dependence on conventional petrol and supporting the broader transition towards cleaner and domestically sourced energy.