Here is a list of every ethanol-powered bike showcased at the auto expo.
Many of you may believe that electric bikes are the way of the future as the automotive industry transitions from gas guzzlers to cleaner alternatives. That may be so, but there are alternatives to electric vehicles.
While many stylish electric bikes and fancy electric scooters were on display at Auto Expo 2023, there was also a dedicated ethanol pavilion, which demonstrated that flex-fuel has a chance to become a viable green option. Let’s quickly examine each of these ethanol-powered bikes.
Honda XRE300 Flex-Fuel
It was undoubtedly a welcome surprise to see this dual-sport motorcycle from Honda. Even though it has the same 291.7cc single-cylinder engine, it performs slightly better thanks to its 25.6PS and 27.4Nm outputs. It has 1.2 PS and 0.4 Nm more torque than a traditional motorcycle and uses fuel with an ethanol composition ranging from 20 to 85%.
TVS Apache RTR 160 4V Flex-Fuel
The 2019 TVS Apache RTR 200 Fi E100 springs to mind when we think of ethanol-powered motorcycles. However, the Hosur-based bike maker showcased a flex-fuel Apache RTR 160 4V at the Auto Expo 2023 that runs on a 20-85% ethanol blend.
Bajaj Pulsar NS160 Flex-Fuel
This eco-friendly Bajaj Pulsar NS160 can run on fuel blends containing up to 85% ethanol. It has the same 160.3cc engine with the same displacement but produces 16.9PS and 14.6Nm, 0.3PS less than the regular bike.
Yamaha Fazer FZ-15 Flex-Fuel (Brazil spec)
Team Blue also showcased a green vehicle, the flex-fuel Fazer FZ-15, built to Brazilian specifications (also known as the Yamaha FZ Fi in India) at the expo. The bike differs from Indian-spec bikes as it can run on fuel with 20-100% ethanol blending.
Suzuki Gixxer 250 FFV
The Suzuki Gixxer 250 flex-fuel prototype was introduced as a can-juice-friendly avatar of the Japanese quarter-liter naked bike, finished in Silver and Green paint. This green bike uses petrol with an ethanol composition of up to 85% and has the exact specifications as its gas-guzzling sibling in every way.
Hero Glamour Xtec Flex-Fuel
When major players in the Indian two-wheeler market showcase their ethanol-powered models, how can Hero MotoCorp stay behind? The sporty 125cc commuter bike Hero Glamor Xtec was chosen by the brand to represent it. The Glamor Xtec flex-fuel bike is identical to the normal bike in all respects, except that it weighs more and uses fuel with ethanol blends ranging from 20 to 85%.
These flex-fuel motorcycles demonstrate how willing brands are to pursue this option, which provides the ideal compromise between using ICE bike and going fully electric. Until flex-fuel becomes more widely used, these motorcycles will remain economically viable. India intends to use 20% ethanol in automotive fuel by 2025.
