Hero MotoCorp on Wednesday launched its first flex-fuel motorcycles, the Splendor+ and HF Deluxe Flex Fuel, with Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Hardeep Singh Puri describing the move as a significant step towards cleaner transportation, lower oil imports and greater energy self-reliance.
Speaking at the launch event in the national capital, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said flex-fuel mobility aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of sustainable and self-reliant transportation. He noted that India, the world’s largest two-wheeler market, is well-positioned to lead the transition towards alternative fuel technologies.
Gadkari highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of flex-fuel vehicles, stating that their adoption could reduce carbon monoxide emissions by up to 77 per cent. He added that wider use of biofuels could help lower India’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and generate foreign exchange savings of nearly ₹1.44 lakh crore.
The minister said the initiative would also strengthen rural energy security, boost demand for biofuels, support farmers, promote waste-to-wealth initiatives and create employment opportunities across the country. Describing the launch as a milestone for the automotive sector, he said it represents a major step forward for both the economy and the environment.
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the government is actively examining supportive policy frameworks, including fuel price support and targeted fiscal incentives, to accelerate the adoption of flex-fuel vehicles.
Puri said India’s future mobility ecosystem would comprise electric vehicles, biofuels, hydrogen and renewable energy, but described flex-fuel vehicles as a practical and immediately deployable solution to reduce crude oil imports, strengthen the rural economy and advance low-carbon mobility goals.
Calling the launch a new chapter in India’s energy transition, Puri said the new motorcycles are compatible with ethanol blends ranging from E20 to E85 and feature upgraded fuel systems, revised ECU calibration and flex-fuel-capable components. He added that the launch marks India’s entry into mass-market flex-fuel mobility through vehicles that are largely manufactured in the country.
India currently imports nearly 88.5 per cent of its crude oil requirements, making energy security a key concern, Puri said. He pointed to the country’s ethanol blending programme as a major success story, noting that blending levels have risen from 1.4 per cent in 2014 to 20 per cent, achieving the target six years ahead of schedule.
According to the minister, the ethanol programme has helped save ₹1.84 lakh crore in foreign exchange, replace 302 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil imports, reduce 909 lakh metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions and generate ₹1.58 lakh crore in income for farmers. “Our annadatas have become urjadatas,” he said.
Puri also underlined the scale of the opportunity in India’s two-wheeler market, which has an active fleet of over 30 crore vehicles. Even if just one per cent of annual petrol vehicle sales shift to E85 fuel in 2026-27, it would generate demand for more than four crore litres of ethanol, save ₹195 crore in foreign exchange and provide around ₹160 crore in direct benefits to farmers, he said.
The minister added that E85 fuel will be available at designated retail outlets and is expected to be substantially cheaper than conventional petrol. With appropriate pricing support, flex-fuel vehicles could quickly achieve ownership cost parity with conventional fuel-powered models, making them an attractive option for consumers.
Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters for 25 consecutive years, said the launch of the new flex-fuel variants is aimed at supporting India’s transition towards cleaner and more sustainable mobility solutions.
(ANI)
