CNG Kits For Two-Wheelers Launched By Govt.

Launched under the project "Hawa Badlo", these two-wheeler CNG retrofit kits gives a range of around 120km in a single fill.

Taking a new step towards a cleaner environment the Indian Government has launched a pilot project which is aimed at implementing CNG powered two-wheelers. Launched in the capital city of Delhi by Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, the project introduces CNG retrofitted two-wheelers, aimed at decreasing the pollution levels in cities.

Launching the pilot program, nicknamed "Hawa Badlo", Pradhan said, "The government is promoting the use of gas in the country to fulfil COP-21 commitments to curb pollution. The gas share in the country's fuel basket is only seven per cent compared to the world average of around 24 per cent. The pilot will be expanded after evaluating its experience."

Implemented by the city gas distributor of the capital, Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL), and its parent firm, GAIL (India), the initial phase of the project involves fifty CNG-retrofitted two-wheelers. Out of these, the first batch of ten scooters has been already flagged off yesterday. These scooters are retrofitted with the CNG kits manufactured by Ituk Manufacturing India Pvt Ltd, a branch of Iranian firm Ituk Manufacturing. 

Commenting on this new initiative, the petrol ministry said, "The introduction of CNG in two-wheeler segment has the capacity to revolutionise the fight against air pollution."

Each of the two-wheeler CNG retrofit kits launched under the pilot has two CNG cylinders with a water capacity of 4.8 litres each. That means each kit has a storage capacity of approximately 2 kg of CNG and can give a range of around 120km to the retrofitted scooters in a single fill. Considering the price of CNG compared to petrol, it is expected to be a significantly more economical option.

But the major benefit of these kits will be the reduction in the harmful emissions which harm and pollute our environment. The ministry claims that the use of CNG kits can cut down carbon emission by 20 per cent and hydrocarbon emission by 75 per cent compared to the use of petrol in the same two-wheeler.