Hero MotoCorp CEO says biofuels are best for immediate carbon reduction, flex-fuel vehicles cost only 3-4% more than ICE models

businesstoday.in

by eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 points

Hero MotoCorp CEO Harshavardhan Chitale made the case for biofuels as the best near-term option for cutting carbon emissions in India's automotive sector. Speaking at the BT India's Most Sustainable Companies Summit, he said flex-fuel vehicles currently cost only 3-4% more than conventional internal combustion engine models, and that premium should disappear as production scales up. Chitale acknowledged that large-scale electrification is needed for net-zero goals, but argued biofuels offer immediate reductions while the transition takes time. The company has already cut carbon emissions by 45% from baseline levels and achieved 500% water positivity, replenishing five times more water than it consumes. Hero MotoCorp also reached 95% product recyclability, well above the industry standard of 80%. Chitale pointed to Brazil as an example where multiple fuel pathways coexist, suggesting India needs a mix of solutions rather than betting on a single technology.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Interesting that a major two wheeler maker is doubling down on flex fuel rather than pushing harder on EVs. The 3-4% cost premium is small but fuel availability for high ethanol blends is still patchy in India.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

The 45% carbon reduction and 500% water positive numbers are the real story here. Those are concrete operational metrics, not just future promises. Curious how much of that came from efficiency vs offsets.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

The water positive claim is impressive given their plants are in Rajasthan. That region has serious water stress. Would like to see third party verification of the 500% figure. Corporate water accounting can be gamed.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Flex fuel makes sense for two wheelers where battery range and charging infrastructure are still problems in smaller cities. But lifecycle emissions of ethanol from sugarcane are not zero. Need to see the full carbon accounting.

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Brazil comparison is fair but their ethanol program took decades and massive subsidies. India's ethanol blending targets have slipped before. The real test is whether flex fuel vehicles actually get used with high blends or just run on petrol 90% of the time.