Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari today launched a first-of-its-kind pilot project for Flexi-Fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles (FFV-SHEV) in India, which would be powered by 100% petrol and 20 to 100% blends ethanol and electricity. Union Ministers Shri Mahendranath Pandey, Shri Bhupender Yadav, Union MoS Shri Rameswar Teli, Karnataka Minister Dr. Shri Murugesh Nirani, Vice Chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motors Pvt. Ltd. Shri Vikram Kirloskar and MD & CEO of Toyota Kirloskar Motor Mr. Masakazu Yoshimura were also present on the occasion. Addressing the rally, Shri Gadkari said that 6 to 8 percent increase in agriculture growth rate is necessary for AtmaNirbhar Bharat.
He emphasized the importance of converting surplus food and sugar into ethanol to support the rural economy. Encouraging ‘Anndatas’ to become ‘Urjadatas’, the minister said the success of this pilot project will create an ecosystem of electric vehicles and make NewIndia a global leader in manufacturing these electric vehicles. He said such technologies are innovative, revolutionary, sustainable, cost effective, energy efficient and will completely change the transport sector in New India.
