BikeDekho Analysis: Which Honda Bike Will Get Flex Fuel First?

Honda has revealed its grand plans of introducing flex-fuel vehicles as well as electrification. Here’s our analysis as to how Honda will go about the former

Honda recently announced its carbon neutrality plans that included the usage of flex fuel engines as well as electrification. In fact, by 2023 Honda plans to introduce a range of two-wheelers with E20 (20 percent ethanol and 80 percent petrol) compatibility, and then by 2025, it will move on to E100-compatible (100 percent ethanol) vehicles. But then the question on our minds is - just how will Honda go about this and which vehicles from their current portfolio will be the ones to first turn to this green fuel?

Kickstart the green campaign with the Activa?

Honda’s first E20-compatible two-wheeler might just be the Activa considering it’s the Japanese marque’s highest selling model in the country by far. The Honda Activa 6G as well as the Activa 125 were updated with new BS6-compliant engines with several efficiency-enhancing technologies. We reckon Honda will update these engines first, and that will also ensure the advantage of economies of scale, keeping the costs in check.

Moreover, as per our interview with Jawa, we got to know that converting a modern engine to run on  ethanol just involves replacing the rubber and plastic parts with other corrosion resistant materials to handle the corrosive nature of ethanol.

What about premium bikes?

After the Activa, Honda might just update the CB300R, as the naked bike is already E20-compatible in select markets Outside. Honda may then update its 500cc and 650cc lineup, which include the Honda CB500X, Honda CB650R and the Honda CBR650R. All the three bikes in select markets are already E10 compatible. Given the recently introduced Honda CB300F is based on a new engine platform, Honda might also give the naked a greener update in the future.

A commuter bike perhaps?

In April 2022, Honda had revealed that it is working on a motorcycle that will cater to the entry-level commuter segment in India, possibly a 100cc bike. It’s expected to be launched by the end of the year, and Honda might just launch the motorcycle with E20 ethanol compatibility. The Japanese brand had introduced its first E100-compatible motorcycle, the CG150 Titan Mix, in Brazil back in 2009, so bringing a commuter motorcycle that runs on this flex-fuel shouldn’t be too challenging for Honda.

Transitioning to flex fuel engines is inherently less expensive in terms of R&D and manufacturing costs compared to going electric as the modifications are done to already existing platforms, Moreover, these tweaks aren’t as substantial so its implementation will also be quicker.