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Toyota To Unveil Its First Flex-fuel Prototype Of The Camry Hybrid On August 29


The Minister of Road Transport & Highways of India, Nitin Gadkari, will also be present for the unveiling

Toyota Camry Hybrid

The next stage in cleaner, greener mobility for India involves the use of flex-fuel vehicles that can run on more than just petrol, diesel, CNG or electricity. Toyota is all set to unveil the prototype of the first flex-fuel strong hybrid car (BS6 Phase-II compliant), the Camry, on August 29. The chief guest for the unveiling will be none other than Nitin Gadkari, the Minister of Road Transport & Highways, India.

In October 2022, Nitin Gadkari launched Toyota’s pilot project for a flex-fuel strong-hybrid car with a left-hand drive (LHD) Corolla Altis. In a span of over 10 months, Toyota is now ready to present the first prototype of its flex-fuel strong-hybrid vehicle, which will not be the Corolla, but the Camry.

What We Know So Far?

While addressing the press conference, Nitin Gadkari revealed that this flex-fuel version of the Camry will be using 100 percent bio-ethanol and will continue to use the strong-hybrid system to generate around 40 percent of its power requirements to propel the car. According to him, the average mileage for this flex-fuel Camry will be around 15kmpl to 20kmpl.

However, the actual specifications of this flex-fuel strong-hybrid model will be revealed at the unveiling.

Also Read: Global NCAP To Hand Over The Reins Of Crash Testing India-specific Cars To Bharat NCAP Starting 2024

What Is Flex-fuel?

Nitin Gadkari in Toyota Corolla Altis Hybrid

Flex-fuel is a blend of two fuels, petrol and ethanol in this case, and a flex-fuel vehicle features an engine that can run on both petrol and ethanol and a high-level blend of the two as well. The ethanol is also termed as a biofuel as it is extracted from agricultural sources such as sugarcane molasses.

Why Is It Important?

Apart from being a greener and more economical alternative to petrol and diesel, flex-fuel will also aid in reducing oil imports, benefiting both India’s automobile industry and the agriculture sector. Also, it is very important to shift our load to renewable sources of energy instead of just relying on fossil fuels. Flex-fuel is not only a greener alternative to petrol and diesel, but also a cheaper option as it will cost Rs 60 per litre, as stated by Nitin Gadkari. Would you consider a flex-fuel vehicle over an electric vehicle to reduce your carbon footprint? Let us know in the comments below.

Read More on : Toyota Camry Automatic

Volkswagen

“Unboxing” in Salzgitter: Prime Minister Stephan Weil Opens First Industrial Machine for Future Gigafactory

A significant milestone has been reached for the Salzgitter Gigafactory as Prime Minister Stephan Weil of Lower Saxony unveils the first industrial machine for the cell factory. The machine, which measures around 10 x 3 meters, marks the beginning of a new construction phase. The ramp-up of the machine and equipment park will now commence, with over 2,500 standard containers needed solely for equipment delivery. The Volkswagen Group’s battery company, PowerCo, is on schedule for its first mega project, and battery cell production at the Salzgitter site will commence in 2025.

Prime Minister Weil visited Salzgitter as part of his two-day summer tour focused on energy in Lower Saxony. The Gigafactory is regarded as an industrial symbol in Germany and a showcase for Lower Saxony as a location. Additionally, the Gigafactory leads the way in sustainability by relying on renewable energy and implementing innovative production processes like dry coating, which can reduce energy usage by up to 30 percent in the future.

Weil explained, “Volkswagen’s decision to construct the first gigafactory for battery cell production in Lower Saxony was courageous and wise. The pandemic has shown us the importance of being self-reliant in crucial areas of production, particularly regarding the battery, which is an essential component of electric vehicles. We must ensure that Germany remains a hub for battery cell production in the face of high energy costs.”

Thomas Schmall, Volkswagen Group Board Member Group Technology, stated, “A year ago, this area was just an open field, but now we are already setting up the first high-tech machines. This demonstrates the speed at which we are executing our plans. PowerCo is well on its way to becoming a global player in the battery industry, potentially serving as a new, future-proof powerhouse for Lower Saxony and Germany.”

The Gigafactory Salzgitter covers an area of approximately 2 million square meters, equivalent to around 280 football fields, making it one of the largest construction projects in Lower Saxony. In total, three PowerCo sites are under construction, including Salzgitter, Valencia, and St. Thomas, Canada. These factories combined will have a total capacity of up to 200 gigawatt hours per year, enough to power over 2 million electric cars.

PowerCo: Attracting Battery Experts

PowerCo is becoming a draw for battery experts. By July 1, 2023, the battery company is expected to employ its one-thousandth employee. By the end of the year, the workforce is projected to grow to up to 1,500. The average age of employees is currently 38, and more than a quarter come from international backgrounds. PowerCo also boasts a higher-than-average female representation of over 30 percent compared to the rest of the industry.

PowerCo CEO Frank Blome stated, “We are building an exceptional team. One year after its establishment, PowerCo has become an attractive destination for experienced battery specialists, who are highly sought-after worldwide. Simultaneously, we are actively training and qualifying our Group employees. In times of skilled labor shortages, this gives us a clear competitive advantage.”