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As the popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) grows rapidly in the Indian automobile market, so too does the fear of “range anxiety” (fear of running out of charge during a trip) and the acute shortage of public charging stations among EV drivers. Standing in line for hours at charging stations and paying hefty electricity bills for fast charging has become a headache for many. But now the Indian automobile industry has come up with a unique and revolutionary solution to this major problem, a perfect blend of green energy and electric mobility.

Indian researchers and leading automakers have developed an advanced technology that allows your electric car to charge in a very short time using 100% organic and renewable fuel like ethanol, instead of relying on an electric plug or charging socket. This technology will not only eliminate the dependence on charging stations but also provide relief from hefty electricity bills.

How does “ethanol range extender” technology work? (How Ethanol EV Charging Works)

People often get confused about whether an ethanol-powered car will be a petrol car or an electric car. The simple answer is: the car will be powered entirely by an electric motor, but the battery will be charged by ethanol.

This is called the Ethanol-powered Range Extender (E-REV) technology:

Small Ethanol Engine and Generator: The car is equipped with a powerful electric motor and a medium-sized lithium-ion battery to turn the wheels. Additionally, a small, extremely silent, flex-fuel/ethanol generator is fitted.

On-the-Go Charging: When you’re driving and the battery charge drops below 20% or 30%, the ethanol generator automatically turns on. The energy generated by burning ethanol fuel directly recharges the EV’s battery and supplies power to the motor.

Full charge at the petrol pump in a jiffy: You don’t need to wait for 4 to 8 hours plugged into a power outlet. Once the ethanol tank is empty, you can go to any regular petrol pump and refill with ethanol (E85 or E100) in 2 minutes. Once the ethanol tank is full, your electric car’s battery is ready to be recharged.

Why is this a ‘game-changer’ for India? Learn about its 4 major benefits

With the Indian government’s policy of achieving 20% ​​ethanol blending (E20) ahead of schedule and promoting 100% ethanol fuel (E100), this technology could prove to be a boon for the country:

Ending dependence on charging infrastructure: India may not have fast charging stations in remote areas, villages, and on highways, but petrol pumps are everywhere. With the increasing number of ethanol pumps, EV drivers will never have to worry about stopping mid-way.

Relief on electricity bills and grid pressure: Simultaneous charging of millions of electric vehicles puts a significant strain on the power grid and increases electricity consumption. Ethanol-based EVs will reduce electricity bills to zero.

Cheap and pollution-free travel: Ethanol is produced from sugarcane juice, corn, and agricultural waste. It is much cheaper than crude oil. Additionally, ethanol’s carbon emissions are negligible, causing no harm to the environment.

Increasing farmer income: Increasing ethanol use will strengthen India’s agricultural economy and reduce the country’s crude oil import bill by billions of dollars, directly benefiting Indian farmers.

Big Steps by Toyota and Indian Startups

Toyota, one of the world’s largest car manufacturers, has already unveiled a prototype of the world’s first 100% ethanol-powered flex-fuel strong hybrid car (Innova Hycross) in India. Following this path, several Indian automotive startups and leading companies like Tata-Mahindra are rapidly working to implement ‘ethanol range extender’ technology in the commercial and passenger EV segments.

Auto experts believe that this combination of ethanol and electric mobility is the most practical and sustainable solution for a vast country like India. In the future, this technology will accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles tenfold, where customers will neither have to worry about range nor suffer the pain of long waiting times for charging.