TVS Unveils Ethanol-Powered Apache Bike
TVS has made history in the Indian motorcycle market by launching the RTR 200 Fi E100, an ethanol-powered Apache bike. This is a groundbreaking move, as it marks the first time an Indian manufacturer has introduced an ethanol-fueled vehicle. The bike's price tag is set at Rs 1.20 lakh (ex-showroom), and it will be available in three states: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka.
The RTR 200 Fi E100 runs solely on ethanol, a low-polluting fuel produced from renewable plant sources such as sugarcane, corn, maize, and wheat. Ethanol contains 35% oxygen and significantly reduces emissions of nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter.
The bike's engine is a 200cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled unit that delivers 20.7 BHP at 8,500 rpm and 18.1 Nm of torque at 7,000 rpm. Although ethanol produces around 34% less energy than petrol, TVS claims that the running costs will be comparable due to the expected lower price of ethanol.
The government is actively promoting ethanol as a fuel source, with plans to establish ethanol pumps across the country. The anticipated cost for a litre of ethanol is Rs 55. Currently, there are no ethanol pumps available in India, but this initiative aims to change that.