Toyota working on multiple technologies for introduction in the Indian market: Masakazu Yoshimura
hybrid vehicles, for introduction in the Indian market in line with the government’s directive to cut crude oil imports and vehicular pollution, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) managing director Masakazu Yoshimura told ET.
The company, which operates in a joint venture with the Kirloskar Group, has started testing a flex fuel strong hybrid version of multi-purpose vehicle Hycross in India. “This is a prototype which we are testing for the first time globally for the market in India. It can take ethanol as well as with the strong hybrid and can have a better fuel efficiency of about 40-50% (compared to gasoline),” said Yoshimura.
He declined to specify a timeline for commercial production of the vehicle but said extensive testing is on, after which the vehicle will go in for homologation and certification.
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Unveiling the prototype of world’s first BS 6 (stage II), electrified flex fuel vehicle of Toyota, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said, “Ethanol being an indigenous, clean and renewable fuel holds a promising future for India. The government’s focus on ethanol is for achieving energy self-reliance, spurring the incomes for farmers and having a better impact on the environment.”
Gadkari said the government’s plan is “not only to diversify agriculture surpluses towards the energy sector but also generate wealth from waste using 2G technology for producing ethanol from bio-waste”. “A lot of emphasis is being laid on building and expanding the necessary infrastructure to produce ethanol in the whole country,” he said.
Additionally, Toyota is working on solid-state batteries and hydrogen powered vehicles, both of
