Royal Enfield is readying a flex-fuel motorcycle: What to expect

Royal Enfield has announced plans to introduce a flex-fuel motorcycle in the Indian two-wheeler market by the third quarter of 2024.

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As the Indian government aims to increase the ethanol blend limit from 10% to 20%, the Chennai-based manufacturer is set to capitalize on the growing demand for cleaner and more sustainable alternatives to petrol.

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The company has not yet confirmed which model will be modified to run on flex-fuel.

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Flex-fuel is a mixture of petrol and ethanol, with vehicles in India currently supporting a blend of up to 10% ethanol.

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The government's plan to increase the base ratio limit to 20% has led to the development of E20 fuel, which is gaining popularity as a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to petrol, in BS6 Stage 2 compliant models.

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This shift toward greener fuels has prompted manufacturers like Royal Enfield to explore flex-fuel options for their vehicles.

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The Classic 350 is a likely candidate for Royal Enfield's first flex-fuel modification. So far, it has been the company's best-selling motorcycle.

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Based on the new J-platform, the Classic 350 could pave the way for other J-platform motorcycles, such as the Meteor 350, the Hunter 350, and the recently launched Bullet 350, to support flex-fuel in the future.

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Royal Enfield is not alone in its pursuit of flex-fuel-powered motorcycles. Honda has also confirmed plans to launch a flex-fuel bike in India.

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