CNG in India

unclelach · Jun 16th, 2008, 08:06

I have experienced the much improved air quality in Delhi since CNG has been used by public transport road vehicles. Is CNG seen as a solution to air pollution and/or fuel availability/cost for private vehicles in Delhi or elsewhere in India?

Are new passenger cars, fitted for CNG and intended for uses other than public transport, made or sold in India?

How many kilometres can a CNG Ambassador taxi travel on a tank of CNG?

Here in Australia, LPG has been widely used because it was once much cheaper than petrol. Australia has run down its own oil from which LPG derives but the country has substantial deposits of natural gas. I hope that my country can learn from India's experience with CNG.

zoltan · Jun 16th, 2008, 09:18

I was listening to a report on 774-ABC and the announcer was talking to someone in the know about CNG /LPG.

Apparently the distance on which a car can travel using CNG is less than LPG. This *may* be due to the size of tanks installed or, it may be that the energy produced by the CNG is less than LPG.

And I do agree that we (Oz) need to make changes (now) for the future sustainability of transport; environment and economics.

Cheers
Zoltan

Yogesh Sarkar · Jun 16th, 2008, 11:17

In India it is expensive to run vehicles on LPG; CNG is a much cheaper option though not many manufactures offer them it as OEM option. However people in cities like Delhi get the CNG kit fitted from outside and that normally lowers the running cost of a car to around Rs. 0.9-1.2/km.

My friend's santro does around 220kms in a full gas tank.

shashank.aggarwal · Jun 16th, 2008, 11:38

LPG comes in capacity of Tanks like 40-60 Kg. However CNG tanks capacity is around 10-14 KG.

A car that runs 8km on a KG of LPG would run 10km on a liter petrol, and 12km on a KG of CNG.

LPG is around Rs.35 per KG, Petrol Rs.50 per liter and CNG Rs.19 per KG.

To retro fit an LPG kit in the car, you have to pay around Rs.15-20K for a CNG kit that goes up to Rs.35-45K.

So it is widely agreed that if you use your car for more than 50km a day, then a CNG kit makes perfect sense.

unclelach · Jun 17th, 2008, 07:57

Thanks zoltan, Yogesh Sarkar and shashank.aggarwal for your replies. For zoltan, I'm a regular listener of ABC 774 in Melbourne and heard some of the chat about CNG though not all.

Since my first post I've used Google more and see that there will be several more cars with factory fitted CNG available in India in the coming months. The makes include Mercedes-Benz, Fiat and Hyundai. I expect there will be more than these. The reason I'm interested in factory fitted gas systems is that retrofitted LPG systems in Australia sometimes caused engine damage or had poor quality control leading to gas leaks and fires. There are New Zealand reports of defective retrofitted CNG systems from a few years back.

I'll check what is happening with CNG in India next year when more cars may be using CNG in more places.

crvlvr · Jun 18th, 2008, 01:17

CNG (natural gas from underground - methane) has less energy than LPG (gas as a result of refining petroleum - propane). Hence the more CNG needs to be burned to provide the same energy as LPG> AFAIK, CNG is not as widely available as LPG. LPG is used in almost every kitchen in India. Hence, it is easier to retrofit petrol automobiles to run on LPG. both, froma n availability of LPG cylinders and perspective and from an engine modification perspective.

However, most modifications of gasoline vehicles to LPG are illegal and do not conform to any safety standard.

Jun 16th, 2008, 08:06	#1
unclelach Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: melbourne, australia Posts: 206	CNG in India I have experienced the much improved air quality in Delhi since CNG has been used by public transport road vehicles. Is CNG seen as a solution to air pollution and/or fuel availability/cost for private vehicles in Delhi or elsewhere in India? Are new passenger cars, fitted for CNG and intended for uses other than public transport, made or sold in India? How many kilometres can a CNG Ambassador taxi travel on a tank of CNG? Here in Australia, LPG has been widely used because it was once much cheaper than petrol. Australia has run down its own oil from which LPG derives but the country has substantial deposits of natural gas. I hope that my country can learn from India's experience with CNG. Last edited by unclelach : Jun 16th, 2008 at 08:11. Reason: speling

Jun 16th, 2008, 09:18	#2
zoltan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 656	I was listening to a report on 774-ABC and the announcer was talking to someone in the know about CNG /LPG. Apparently the distance on which a car can travel using CNG is less than LPG. This may be due to the size of tanks installed or, it may be that the energy produced by the CNG is less than LPG. And I do agree that we (Oz) need to make changes (now) for the future sustainability of transport; environment and economics. Cheers Zoltan __________________ India (and other) photos click here

Jun 16th, 2008, 11:17	#3
Yogesh Sarkar Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Delhi (India) Posts: 1,074	In India it is expensive to run vehicles on LPG; CNG is a much cheaper option though not many manufactures offer them it as OEM option. However people in cities like Delhi get the CNG kit fitted from outside and that normally lowers the running cost of a car to around Rs. 0.9-1.2/km. My friend's santro does around 220kms in a full gas tank. __________________ My Travelogues \| My Blog \| Ladakh Travel Guide

Jun 16th, 2008, 11:38	#4
shashank.aggarwal Mr. Badboy :D Join Date: May 2007 Location: ~ Dilli ~ Posts: 5,519	LPG comes in capacity of Tanks like 40-60 Kg. However CNG tanks capacity is around 10-14 KG. A car that runs 8km on a KG of LPG would run 10km on a liter petrol, and 12km on a KG of CNG. LPG is around Rs.35 per KG, Petrol Rs.50 per liter and CNG Rs.19 per KG. To retro fit an LPG kit in the car, you have to pay around Rs.15-20K for a CNG kit that goes up to Rs.35-45K. So it is widely agreed that if you use your car for more than 50km a day, then a CNG kit makes perfect sense. __________________ Travelogue - Around India Random Reviews

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Jun 17th, 2008, 07:57	#5
unclelach Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: melbourne, australia Posts: 206	Thanks zoltan, Yogesh Sarkar and shashank.aggarwal for your replies. For zoltan, I'm a regular listener of ABC 774 in Melbourne and heard some of the chat about CNG though not all. Since my first post I've used Google more and see that there will be several more cars with factory fitted CNG available in India in the coming months. The makes include Mercedes-Benz, Fiat and Hyundai. I expect there will be more than these. The reason I'm interested in factory fitted gas systems is that retrofitted LPG systems in Australia sometimes caused engine damage or had poor quality control leading to gas leaks and fires. There are New Zealand reports of defective retrofitted CNG systems from a few years back. I'll check what is happening with CNG in India next year when more cars may be using CNG in more places.

Jun 18th, 2008, 01:17	#6
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 4,474	CNG (natural gas from underground - methane) has less energy than LPG (gas as a result of refining petroleum - propane). Hence the more CNG needs to be burned to provide the same energy as LPG> AFAIK, CNG is not as widely available as LPG. LPG is used in almost every kitchen in India. Hence, it is easier to retrofit petrol automobiles to run on LPG. both, froma n availability of LPG cylinders and perspective and from an engine modification perspective. However, most modifications of gasoline vehicles to LPG are illegal and do not conform to any safety standard.

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