India’s First BS6 Stage II Flex-Fuel Hybrid

September 6, 2023

Toyota has unveiled the Innova Hycross prototype, a groundbreaking development for India’s automotive industry. This initiative aligns with the Indian government’s efforts to deploy flex-fuel technology, following global models like Brazil, Canada, and the United States. The next steps include testing, calibration, homologation, and certification before commercial deployment.

Key Facts About Hycross Prototype

This vehicle is equipped with a flex-fuel hybrid powertrain, marking Toyota’s foray into India’s flex-fuel market.
It’s the world’s first BS6 Stage II-compliant flex-fuel vehicle.
The prototype combines a 2-liter Atkinson Cycle petrol engine with an electric motor, ensuring it can run efficiently on petrol blended with over 20% ethanol. This aligns with India’s current ethanol blending mandate.
Hycross flex-fuel prototype’s performance matches that of the standard Hycross hybrid, and it boasts low carbon emissions on a well-to-wheel basis.

Significance

The Innova Hycross prototype introduces flex-fuel hybrid technology to India and represents a significant step toward reducing the nation’s reliance on imported crude oil. It also aligns with environmental goals by promoting ethanol blending.

About flex-fuel vehicle

A flex-fuel vehicle can run on a variety of fuels or fuel mixtures, including petrol and ethanol. It differs from traditional petrol vehicles by its ability to adapt to different fuel types or blends.

Impact on emissions and fuel consumption

Flex-fuel vehicles lower harmful pollutants such as carbon monoxide, sulfur, and nitrogen oxides due to ethanol blending. However, they may experience a slight reduction in fuel efficiency when using ethanol. Acceleration performance often improves with higher ethanol blends.

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