Honda Motor Firm is making ready to launch extra flex-fuel two-wheelers in India, however the specifics stay below wraps. “What sort of FFV Honda will launch sooner or later is prime secret,” mentioned Ryuta Niimura, Chief Engineer at Honda Motor Japan. “However we’re prepared to supply flex-fuel autos to prospects in India.”
Niimura was talking on the sidelines of a session on carbon neutrality. In accordance with him, India’s rising bioethanol infrastructure, mixed with home feedstock availability, positions the nation to develop low-carbon mobility at scale. “India has the potential to realize each financial improvement and CO₂ discount by utilizing the entire vitality sources,” he mentioned.
The Honda government argued that bioethanol is at the moment the quickest and most sensible route for India’s two-wheeler phase to chop emissions. Whereas electrical autos produce zero tailpipe emissions, Niimura famous that battery manufacturing carries a big carbon footprint.
“Bioethanol-powered inside combustion engines can obtain comparable or higher outcomes over the car’s life,” he defined. “We have to produce autos that may run on low-carbon vitality at an reasonably priced worth.”
Brazil’s success story as a blueprint
Honda’s case for bioethanol is knowledgeable by its expertise in Brazil, the place the corporate launched the world’s first flex-fuel bike, the CG 150 Titan Combine, in 2009. The nation’s RenovaBio coverage, launched in 2019, mixed incentives for producers, gas producers and shoppers, accelerating adoption.
“Brazil achieved the unfold of biofuels with out imposing ache on anybody,” Niimura mentioned, including that authorities assist ensured biofuel infrastructure and car availability developed in parallel.
In India, bioethanol manufacturing has expanded for the reason that 2018 biofuel coverage enabled use of a number of feedstocks, decreasing dependence on imported oil and fuel. Niimura mentioned this strategy additionally presents socio-economic advantages.
“Producing crops for bioethanol contributes to the event of agriculture,” he mentioned. “Rising manufacturing will improve revenue and make farmers’ lives extra affluent.”
Honda goals to realize carbon neutrality for all merchandise by the 2040s. Niimura acknowledged that whereas different applied sciences might be a part of the long-term combine, bioethanol is the quickest deployable possibility within the close to time period.
Honda launched its first flex-fuel bike in India in October 2024. The corporate at the moment presents the CB300F flex-fuel variant within the home market.
