Honda Motorcycles and Scooters has launched its premium bike Honda CB300F in India. The company has priced it at Rs 1.7 lakh. Bookings for Honda CB300F have started. Customers can also order new bikes from Honda's Bigwing showroom.
The special thing is that this bike is the first bike in the country that runs on E85 fuel in the 300CC segment. E85 fuel means it is made from 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Use of flex fuel will reduce pollution.
The Government of India is running a campaign to increase the use of ethanol. The government has set a target of using 20% ethanol in petrol by FY 2025-26. This will reduce dependence on oil imports and increase jobs in the domestic agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
Design: Muscular body with LED headlight setup Apart from the flex-fuel engine, the company has not made any changes to the bike. Its look, design and hardware are same as before. It features LED headlights and muscular body work.
Its front has been made slightly sharper, giving it a sporty appeal. This bike has been presented in two color options. Which includes red and gray color. Ethanol indicator is also provided in its display. It has 17-inch alloy wheels, a seat height of 789mm and a ground clearance of 177mm.
Performance: 300CC engine with 24.5hp power For performance, the CB300F has a 300cc single-cylinder, four-stroke flex fuel compatible engine, which generates 24.5hp of power and 26Nm of peak torque.
The engine is tuned to a 6-speed gearbox with assist and slipper clutch, ensuring smooth upshifts and downshifts. There is an oil-cooling setup to keep the engine cool.
Features: Fully digital instrument cluster The bike has a fully digital instrument cluster with 5 levels of adjustable brightness. It provides basic information for the rider like speedometer, tachometer, gear position, a clock and two trip meters. Additionally, it features an Intelligence Ethanol Indicator, which alerts the rider when ethanol levels exceed the E85 limit.
Safety features: Twin disc-brake setup with dual-channel ABS For safety, the motorcycle has a twin disc-brake setup with dual-channel ABS. It has a 276mm disc at the front and a 220mm disc at the rear. It also has Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), which detects rear wheel spin. This system electronically reduces engine torque to control traction and stabilize the bike.
For a comfortable ride, the bike's suspension setup features a front upside-down fork with a golden anodized finish and a 5-step adjustable rear mono-shock. For better visibility at night, the bike also features a front LED headlamp, LED turn signal and LED tail light.
What is ethanol? Ethanol is a type of alcohol, made from the fermentation of starch and sugar. It is mixed with petrol and used as an eco-friendly fuel in vehicles. Ethanol is primarily produced from sugarcane juice, but ethanol can also be produced from starchy materials such as corn, rotten potatoes, cassava, and rotting vegetables.
- 1G Ethanol: First-generation ethanol is made from sugarcane juice, sweet beets, rotten potatoes, sweet sorghum and corn.
- 2G Ethanol: Second generation ethanol is produced from cellulose and lignocellulosic materials such as rice bran, wheat bran, corncob, bamboo and woody biomass.
- 3G Biofuel: Third generation biofuels will be made from algae. This is still being worked on
What is the benefit of adding ethanol? Mixing ethanol in petrol will help in reducing the pollution caused by the use of petrol. With its use, vehicles emit 35% less carbon monoxide. Ethanol also reduces sulfur dioxide and hydrocarbon emissions. Since ethanol contains 35% oxygen, this fuel also reduces nitrogen oxide emissions.
- What is the benefit to the common man? Vehicles running on ethanol adulterated petrol run much less hot than petrol. The alcohol in ethanol evaporates quickly, so the engine does not warm up as quickly. Besides, it will be much cheaper than crude oil. It is also expected to provide relief from inflation.
- Benefit to farmers: Increasing use of ethanol will also increase farmers' income. Because ethanol is made from sugarcane, corn and many other crops. Sugar mills will get a new source of income and their earnings will increase. Ethanol has benefited the farmers to the tune of 21 thousand crore rupees.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
