Hero MotoCorp will launch India's first motorcycle capable of running entirely on ethanol fuel on June 3, marking a major step in the country's efforts to promote cleaner and alternative fuel-based transport.
The company has not yet revealed the name of the upcoming model, but regulatory approval has already been granted for flex-fuel versions of its popular HF Deluxe and Splendor motorcycles, Overdrive reported.
Unlike existing flex-fuel motorcycles available from Suzuki and Honda that run on E85 fuel - a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% petrol - Hero's new motorcycle will be designed to operate on E100, or pure ethanol.
Hero MotoCorp CEO Harshavardhan Chitale said the company supports the government's push for faster adoption of flex-fuel vehicles in India.
"We support the government's call to rapidly accelerate the introduction of flex-fuel vehicles," Chitale said, adding that manufacturers would be ready to introduce such vehicles as soon as fuel availability improves.
He also said India's clean mobility transition should not depend entirely on electric vehicles, pointing to concerns related to supply chains and dependence on a single country.
"For India's energy resilience and move towards clean mobility, we need to look at multiple sources," he said.
Hero MotoCorp had earlier showcased the HF Deluxe flex-fuel prototype at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo held in January 2025. The technology for the motorcycle was developed at the company's Centre for Innovation and Technology in Jaipur.