TVS Motor launches India's first ethanol-powered motorcycle, the green Apache RTR 200 4V at Rs 1.20 lakh

TVS Motor has launched what is the country's first ethanol-powered motorcycle, a 'green' version of its popular Apache RTR 200 4V. At its price of Rs 1.20 lakh ex-showroom, the ethanol-powered Apache RTR 200 retails at about Rs 11,000 more than the RTR 200 Fi which retails at Rs 1.09 lakh ex-showroom. The bike, christened the Apache RTR 200 Fi E100, was launched in New Delhi by Venu Srinivasan, chairman, TVS Motor Company and his son Sudarshan Venu in the presence of Nitin Gadkari, minister for Road Transport and Highways of India and Amitabh Kant, CEO of Niti Aayog which is the government's think tank for environmental forays. The past couple of years have seen a strong push from the government towards electrification of automobiles as also alternate, more eco-friendly fuels and every manufacturer in the country has been working at a feverish pace.

TVS Motor though has taken the lead as far as two-wheelers running on ethanol-based fuel are concerned. The Apache RTR 200 Fi E100 uses 100 per cent ethanol to replace petrol and is the first two-wheeler in the country to achieve the feat. TVS Motor also tells us ethanol gives engine performance a bump as well apart from being a less polluting fuel as compared to petrol.
Ethanol is produced domestically from renewable sources, including remains and alcohol from sugar factories and is lesser polluting as well. TVS Motor tells us two-wheelers account for about 10 per cent of consumption of the total fuel imported into the country at an annual expense of about Rs 13 billion and ethanol-based two-wheelers can help cut down the expense significantly while also polluting lesser.

Visual changes to the RTR 200 Fi E100 include differentiated graphics. The bike uses a twin-spray-twin-port EFI technology. TVS claims this ensures improved drivability, throttle response and reduced emissions. The Apache RTR 200 Fi E100 offers 21PS and 18.1Nm from the same 200cc air-cooled, single cylinder engine that powers the regular Apache RTR 200 4V, albeit with modifications. In comparison, the petrol-powered version offers about half a PS less. The ethanol version also boasts a higher (claimed) top speed of 129kmph. The bike will be offered in three states - Maharashtra, UP and Karnataka.