First BS6 Phase 2-complaint Flex Fuel Vehicle Revealed: Toyota Innova Hycross Prototype Combines Best Of Two Worlds

• Toyota Innova Hycross flex fuel prototype vehicle revealed.

• It is the first BS6 phase-2 compliant flex fuel vehicle in India.

• The Innova Hycross prototype is E85 compatible.

• Flex fuel benefits get combined with the advantages of a hybrid system for cleaner and more efficient emissions.

• E20 fuel to be implemented nationwide by April 2025.

Nitin Gadkari and Toyota have always been experimenting with sources of alternative fuel and cleaner propulsion options. And that narrative continues as the Transport Minister has unveiled the Toyota Innova Hycross flex-fuel prototype vehicle, which also happens to be the first flex fuel prototype to be compliant with the BS6 Phase 2 regulations in India.

Hybrid for the win

Flex fuel vehicles combine the use of petrol and ethanol for combustion, which mostly involves more than 20% of ethanol in the total blend. India is aiming to introduce it in 2025. But given that the Innova Hycross makes use of a 186PS 2-litre strong-hybrid powertrain, which can already run on pure-electrification for 40% of its distance under certain test conditions, the advantages of pairing it with flex fuel vehicles become multifold, and we have detailed them in the next section. Moreover, this prototype is E85 compatible, which means it can run on a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% petrol.

Advantages

Not only is ethanol cheaper than petrol by nearly half the margin, it is also a biofuel which can be extracted from sugarcane molasses found in agricultural products. So along with reduced running costs, it is also a lot greener and cleaner for the environment, thanks to its carbon-neutral traits. 

Also Read: 2023 Tata Nexon Spied Completely Undisguised, Here’s What We Can Discern

The hybrid technology then combines with the benefits of its electrified propulsion and ethanol fuel for an improved fuel efficiency along with the reduced CO2 emissions. The flex fuel vehicle business can be a bit complicated, so here's a simplified explanation of the technology and why it's being encouraged:

In terms of other brands jumping on the bandwagon, Maruti recently showcased a Wagon R flex fuel prototype that can run on a blend of between 20% (E20) and 85% (E85) fuel. What are your thoughts on these flex fuel vehicles? Do you think it’ll be enough to keep ICE vehicles alive or is the shift to electrification inevitable?