CNG cars boomed before the EV market grew

- Antenna : Vivek Mehta

- Manufacturers to market with CNG variants to make the most of consumer mindset

Electric vehicles are a great option to curb pollution. It can control the pollution sooner. On the other hand CNG is less polluting so it is also becoming a good option. Electric vehicles are expected to become cheaper and the reliability of their battery performance will increase. As the prices of petrol and diesel are skyrocketing, diesel cars are becoming less and less. Petrol and diesel cars increase the amount of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere. Due to CNG, carbon monoxide pollution is reduced by 80 percent. CNG produces 45 percent less hydrocarbons compared to petrol and diesel vehicles.

The engine life of a car running on CNG is longer. The cost of oil change is also less. This is also one of the reasons for the increasing popularity of CNG cars across India. Thirdly, the maintenance cost of the car is also reduced due to CNG. Yes, one of the dangers of CNG cars is that if they leak, they stay in the same atmosphere as gas cars. However, experts say that its ignition point is twice that of petrol and diesel i.e. 540 centigrade, so it is less likely to catch fire than petrol and diesel.

That is why the car manufacturing companies are also trying hard to sustain and increase the sales of diesel cars. Companies have been active to take advantage of the CNG car market before electric cars take off across India. Companies have been making CNG cars for the past ten to twelve years, but there was not much emphasis on it until now. Now companies are focusing more on CNG powered cars. According to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations, 'petrol and diesel prices are Rs. 95 more than Rs. 100, so the sale of vehicles running on CNG is increasing. On the other hand, as the price of CNG is increasing, there is also a break in converting to CNG. To take advantage of this, companies have started bringing more models running on CNG. According to the figures released by the automobile industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) in the second fortnight of September 2022, there has been a 54 percent increase in the sales of gas-powered vehicles in 2022. In 2021, 1,71,288 vehicles were sold during this period. Against this, 2,65,383 vehicles have been sold till September 15, 2022. This increase is 54 percent.

Many new models of CNG cars can be seen in the near future. More than 15 CNG models of car manufacturing companies are currently in the market. Companies have announced their intention to enter the CNG car segment vigorously. Maruti Suzuki has been the first to take advantage of the trend and capitalize on the demand for CNG models. Maruti Suzuki has nine CNG-powered passenger cars in the market. Tata Motors CNG version has arrived. Hyundai has now launched the CNG version as well.

On the other hand, the price of CNG-compressed natural gas in a single year is Rs. 52 to Rs. 79 has happened. Despite the increase of 51 percent, consumers are choosing to buy CNG vehicles. A car running on petrol and diesel gives an average of 10 to 12 kilometers per liter if driven in the city. In contrast, a car running on CNG gives an average of 18 to 22. In some cases this average goes up to 25. As a result, despite the increase in its price, the average cost per kilometer is Rs. It comes around 4 to 4.25. Against this, the running cost per kilometer of petrol and diesel vehicles is Rs. 8 or more comes. Thus saving 50 percent in fuel cost. That is why consumers choose CNG vehicles.