- Expected to be launched in this financial year
- Could be launched under the Pulsar brand name
With the government’s push towards greener mobility, two-wheeler manufacturers are shifting their focus to alternative fuels such as CNG and ethanol. After launching the world’s first CNG bike, the Freedom 125, Bajaj Auto is set to jump on the ethanol bandwagon with its first-ever ethanol motorcycle, which is expected to be unveiled in September 2024. The production-spec model will likely be launched in India this financial year.
That said, there’s no word on what this upcoming Bajaj ethanol bike would be. Will it be an all-new motorcycle like the Bajaj Freedom 125 or an existing model made to comply with E100 fuels? We believe Bajaj Auto will go with an existing model from its lineup as it will help them save on R&D costs. We think the first Bajaj ethanol bike could be a derivative of the Pulsar. The Pulsar brand name is quite popular amongst buyers and enjoys an excellent brand recall.
Apart from the TVS Apache RTR 200 4V E100, no manufacturer has launched or showcased an E100 bike in India. The former has been discontinued in the country. That said, quite a few two-wheeler manufacturers showcased their E85-compatible bikes at the Bharat Mobility Show 2024.
E100 ethanol bikes run on 100 per cent ethanol fuels and offer lower running costs. However, compared to petrol, the corrosive nature of ethanol can degrade certain plastic and rubber engine parts over time. So, it would require significant re-engineering on the manufacturer’s part to counter these issues.
