Bajaj Set To Unveil Ethanol-Powered Bike In September

Bajaj Auto, as well as a few other two-wheeler makers, will be showcasing its ethanol-powered motorcycle in September. This is part of the government's plan to make transportation more environmentally friendly. The new bike will be shown to the public next month, likely at the upcoming SIAM convention, and may be available for sale by the end of the year.

Industry Shift Towards Alternative Fuels

The two-wheeler industry is witnessing a significant shift towards alternative fuels like CNG and ethanol. Bajaj recently launched the world's first CNG bike, the Freedom 125, and has been ready with its ethanol-powered motorcycles like other bike-makers. 

Also read: Flex Fuels Bikes Showcased At Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024

What could Bajaj Display

At the Bharat Mobility Expo in February 2024, Bajaj showcased the Pulsar NS160 and Dominar 400 with E27.5 compatibility. While there's no official word on whether these models will be displayed next month or brand new E85-compatible bikes. Hopefully, we should have more data on the same soon. However, while the presence of such bikes certainly shows that the manufacturers are ready to roll out the products, the limited infrastructure remains a stumbling block. 

Challenges and Opportunities

Overall, ethanol is mixed with petrol to increase its quantity, reducing the usage of pure petrol and subsequently decreasing the import bill of crude oil. However, there's a downside: pure petrol has better power density than ethanol. Ethanol is an acidic, water-based fuel that can cause issues with plastic and rubber engine parts. Older vehicles may experience deterioration over time, whereas newer E20-compatible vehicles are designed to handle this corrosion. Fortunately, our country has large reserves of sugarcane residue from the high produce, from which ethanol is produced, making the cost-benefit ratio highly favourable.

Also read: Toyota Innova HyCross Flex Fuel Prototype Introduced In India

Industry Demands Policy Support

Major manufacturers like TVS and Hero are seeking policy support, reduced GST rates, and a clear roadmap for nationwide ethanol fuel rollout. The industry has welcomed the government's push for a transition to clean energy vehicles and is poised to mass-produce flex-fuel two-wheelers capable of running on high ethanol blends. Many manufacturers have showcased some of their products made compatible with the E85 ethanol blend. Take a look at the Royal Enfield Classic 350 flex fuel.

Next Steps

Next year, in January 2025, many companies are likely to show off their new bikes and scooters that can run on different types of fuel at the Auto Expo. The government is helping to make this happen, so we can expect to see more and more of these flexible fuel vehicles on the road in the near future.