I recently returned from a trip to India where ACE co-sponsored a U.S. Grains Council booth in the Ethanol Pavilion of the India Auto Expo in New Delhi. The Expo highlighted battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and some hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and featured separate halls for “two-wheelers” and “three-wheelers” – which becomes an obvious need after one travels only a few seconds in Indian traffic surrounded by scooters and “tuk-tuks” that dominate the roads. While EVs were getting the most attention – primarily as the “vehicles of tomorrow” – automakers displayed their latest models regardless of fuel type and the show included halls with heavy duty vehicles, classic cars, and auto accessories, among other things.
The Ethanol Pavilion was among those other things, but it was in Hall 1 and was the first of those things seen by the over 600,000 attendees who entered the Auto Expo. Auto companies displayed FFVs, and there were several motorcycle companies showing off flex fuel motorcycles, and letting people know their new bikes will be able to handle E20.
At the Expo, I shared the stage with several other experts for a session entitled “Biofuels: Boon for the Indian Sustainability Roadmap.” While I was pleased to see “Boon” without the “doggle” attached by U.S. ethanol haters, I told attendees I wasn’t sure I should lecture about higher blends implementation in the U.S., when India has a target of 20 percent ethanol by 2025 and will likely achieve it before there is even widespread E15 availability in the U.S. I also said I was jealous of cooperation between the ethanol industry, the Indian Federal government, Indian Auto Manufacturers, and the Indian oil industry, to move to E20. Representatives of all those manufacturers, offices, and industries were also represented on the panel, expressing their support for E20 – and more.
One speaker was a representative from Toyota, which unveiled a flex fuel strong hybrid sedan in India last October. The sedan was imported from Toyota Brazil and was on display among other Toyotas in the Auto Hall. Like HEFF, ACE’s Hybrid Electric Flex Fuel automobile, the car can run on E85 in addition to its hybrid powertrain. The “strong” hybrid description indicates it runs on battery for a greater percentage of time than earlier versions. I want one.
In India, air quality is a real emergency and ethanol is seen as it was seen before it helped rid California and New York of air quality problems. Unfortunately, ending the U.S. emergency has allowed enviros to dream of shiny expensive EVs while not including the fuel already cleaning the air among other things making our air cleaner.
