NEW DELHI, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Indian Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday unveiled the prototype of an ethanol-powered car that is compliant to BS-6 norms (emission standards).
The prototype of the BS-6 stage II "electrified flex-fuel vehicle" was developed by Toyota Kirloskar Motor with the aim to enhance and promote the use of clean energy in the South Asian country.
Flex fuel is a technology that allows an engine to utilize a higher percentage of ethanol blended in petrol or gasoline to reduce carbon footprint, improve sustainable mobility and decrease the country's dependency on traditional fuel sources.
The minister said ethanol, being an indigenous, eco-friendly and renewable fuel, holds promising prospects for India.
Gadkari said India has to reduce its dependence on oil imports in order to become self-reliant and to achieve this goal there is a need to bring oil imports to zero.
With the ethanol blending, India's agricultural growth will rise from 12 percent to 20 percent and will provide lots of job opportunities, the minister said. ■