New TVS Apache RTR 200 Fi Ethanol Unveiled

Published February 8, 2018
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In addition to electric propulsion, TVS is also experimenting with alternative fuels

As a part of TVS’s green initiatives, focusing on reducing their carbon footprint and also on meeting future emission norms, the Hosur-based company unveiled the RTR 200 Fi Ethanol at the Auto Expo 2018.

The RTR Ethanol runs on E85 ethanol that is an oxygenated fuel similar to petrol but made from plant matter. Most petrol engines can be run on ethanol but need revised changes to the fuel system, that allows them to run with the higher air-fuel mixture that ethanol requires. And helping with that change is the twin-spray-twin-port fuel injectors that the RTR Ethanol is equipped with.

Claimed performance numbers still remain the same as the petrol-fueled Apache RTR 200 Fi at 21PS and 18.1Nm with a claimed top speed of 129kmph. The green Apache sports a new colour scheme too with a bold green accent stripe on the tank that contrasts well with the base pearl white paint.

As a fuel, ethanol does produce cleaner emissions than petrol. However, most petrol engines also require more ethanol to run smoothly and so consume more fuel. It will be interesting to see how TVS has managed to maintain the mileage of the RTR Ethanol to offset this loss in fuel efficiency. E85 or other grades of ethanol fuel are also not currently on sale in India though talks are on to introduce it as transportation fuel

TVS hasn’t indicated if they have any plans to turn this concept into a production model. For now, the RTR is purely a demonstration that the bikemaker clearly has the technological prowess to react to the government's increasing green focus.