Toyota Kirloskar Motor, an India-based joint venture between Toyota Motor Corp. and Kirloskar Group, on Aug. 29 unveiled a prototype of a BS 6 (stage II) electrified flex fuel vehicle (FFV) that can be fueled with ethanol blends beyond E20.

According to information released by the India Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the protype features both a flex fuel engine and an electric powertrain, enabling the use of higher blends of ethanol combined with increased fuel efficiency.

India in May 2022 announced amendments to its National Policy on Biofuels that aim to increase the adoption of E20 and allow the use of new biofuel feedstocks, among other changes. According to TKM, India has already substantially increased its use of ethanol, with the ethanol percentage of gasoline fuel increasing from 1.53 percent in 2013-’14 to 11.5 percent in March 2023. The country currently aims to achieve a 20 percent ethanol blend rate by April 2025. 

TKM predicts that post-2025, India will have a surplus of ethanol beyond that needed to meet the E20 goal. To fully realize that potential and maximize social benefits, FFV vehicles that can be fueled with blends of ethanol beyond E20 will be needed. Electrified FFVs like the prototype introduced by TKM increase the benefits associated with higher ethanol blends by offsetting more petroleum use and maximizing fuel efficiency. 

According to TKM, the prototype vehicle unveiled on Aug. 29 is modeled after the Toyota Innova Hycross, an electrified FFV currently available in Brazil. The protype, however, is designed to be compatible with India’s emissions regulations, which differ from Brazil’s.