Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has finally signed the file finalizing regulations for the use of 100% ethanol in vehicles, a vision he had been vocal about for months.
Speaking at a gathering in Nagpur, Maharashtra, Gadkari said that people used to laugh at his idea, but now ethanol could become a viable alternative to petrol.
The draft changes to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 aim to provide for wider use of fuels, including E85 and E100, as well as B100 biodiesel and hydrogen-CNG combinations.
Gadkari also announced that automobile companies will launch ethanol-compatible vehicles within the next month-and-a-half, with Hero MotoCorp already launching two flex-fuel models capable of running on 100% ethanol.
A pilot project featuring a hydrogen pump and two hydrogen-powered buses will be unveiled in Nagpur soon, and Gadkari is optimistic that the day for hydrogen-powered vehicles is near.
