Rising fuel prices lead to demand of CNG version of premium cars

The rising petrol prices are getting even the rich, under its powerful clutches and have started taking its toll across the country. People have started looking for other options like diesel and now Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to cut the costs. However, CNG seems to be a better option with the staggering diesel prices. The dealers of the CNG kit fitment say that there has been an increasing demand of CNG kits in the premium cars segment as well. They say that the demand of the CNG kits have increased over the past few months by atleast 25 – 30 % as the CNG is not only cheaper by half of the petrol price, but also gives almost double the fuel efficiency.

While people are coming with their vehicles to be fixed with the CNG kits, the premium car segment buyers are opting for CNG variant of Honda CR-V, Honda Civic, Honda City, Toyota Camry and Toyota Corolla and in the entry-level car segment, there has been an considerable leap in the demand for CNG version of Maruti WagonR, Maruti Alto and Hyundai Santro. The CNG kits that enable the engines to be empowered with both CNG and petrol are imported from Argentina and Italy at Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000

A veteran CNG kit fixer from Andheri has said that last year, where there had been no more than 40 requests for CNG fitment in private cars, they are now encountering 300-400 such requests. A Thane –based business man has remarked that he finds the CNG highly economical and helps him cut down his costs by 60% and playfully adds that he need not fear of somebody stealing it either.

No wonder, CNG helps in fuel efficiency and leads to savings by 70% as it is simple arithmetic if you are good at numbers. Petrol is currently pushing Rs 70 a litre, whereas CNG costs less than half at Rs 32 a kilo. Now, coming to the fuel efficiency, a Honda CR-V, which gives a mileage of 6-7 km per litre petrol, gives at least 17 km for 1 kg of CNG, there-by saving the fuel cost of 27 km, as one can buy 2 kgs of CNG at the same price of 1 litre petrol.

CNG kit dealers are supposed to get an approval from the Road Transport Authority (RTA) office for the fitment in the high end cars including the luxury cars. Apparently, unless they have the approvals for all the various models, the customers with CNG kits cannot go to the fuel stations for the fuel.Dealers are reported to have been seeking approvals for the luxury cars like BMW and Mercedes.