Bajaj is all set to unveil their ethanol bike in the coming month of September. This is a much-expected move in line with the Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari’s vision for ethanol-based vehicles. Bajaj is on the path to sustainable fuels, which is evident by their recently launched their CNG bike, the Freedom 125, in the Indian market. Why are ethanol vehicles being promoted, and what is this bike like? Read ahead to know more.
The Bajaj Ethanol Bike
We currently don’t have any official information on what the upcoming Bajaj bike will be like. The last products we saw from Bajaj related to ethanol were the Pulsar NS160 and the Dominar 400, which supported E27.5 and were showcased at the Bharat Mobility Expo in February 2024. Rajiv Bajaj, MD, Bajaj Auto Ltd., told the media that Bajaj is getting ready to launch both a motorcycle and three-wheeler based on ethanol in this financial year.
He further added that the company had been encouraged by Mr Gadkari’s emphasis on ethanol. He claimed that they will showcase an ethanol motorcycle and three-wheeler in Delhi next month with other players in the industry.
Why Ethanol?
There are multiple reasons why the government and industry alike are moving towards ethanol-based vehicles. The first is an economic one. Ethanol, being produced from crops like sugarcane and corn, reduces the dependence of the country on the import of fossil fuels. Ethanol, unlike fossil fuels, is produced on farms in India, increasing farmer’s incomes. The second reason is environmental. Ethanol, when burned, produces way fewer emissions than petrol or diesel. This is essential to improving the air quality of major cities.
Ethanol can be blended in petrol or used as an independent fuel. The blends exist in different proportions: E10 has 10% ethanol, E20 has 20%, and E85 has 85%. E100 vehicles use 100% ethanol fuel but are available in very limited quantities.
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