Introduction:
India’s oldest two-wheeler manufacturer Bajaj Auto has launched the world’s first CNG bike (Compressed Natural gas powered two-wheeler), named Freedom 125. The first compressed natural gas i.e. CNG powered bike will start at nearly Rs- 95000. This lowest-priced bike will be a revolution in the motorcycle market.
Bajaj launches Freedom 125, world’s first CNG-powered bike
CNG Bike Key Features:
• Telescopic front forks
• Mono-link suspension
• A front disc and rear drum brake setup
• Engine up to 125 cc
• Conventional fuel tank with CNG cylinder placed beneath
CNG Bike Color & Variants:
CNG Freedom 125 will be available in a total of six colors and three (03) Variants.
The three Variants with ex-showroom prices are
i) Drum@ Rs 95,000,
ii) Drum LED@ Rs 1.05 Lakh and
iii) Disc LED@ Rs 1.10 Lakh
Engine and Power:
A 125cc Single-Cylinder Engine
Power: 9.5PS
Torque: 9.7Nm
Fuel:
The motorcycle features dual-fuel capability, running on both petrol and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) with a simple button switch.
Range/Mileage:
Bajaj claims it offers a mileage of 213 kilometers per kilogram of CNG. The bike boasts the longest seat in its segment, standing at 785mm.
Running Economy:
The operational cost of CNG two-wheelers would be approximately Re 1 per kilometer. The Freedom 125 includes a 2 kg CNG tank.
This bike, the company said, promises 50 per cent cost savings by reducing fuel expenses compared to petrol motorcycles. The CNG tank provides a range of over 200 km on 2 kg of CNG, while the 2-litre petrol tank offers an additional 130 km, culminating in a total range of 330 km for a full tank, said the two-wheeler major.
Consumers save around Rs 15,000 annually on fuel bills, effectively recovering the cost difference between the CNG bike and its petrol counterpart, said Bajaj Auto, which is in discussions with oil marketing companies to expand the CNG station network and include dedicated two-wheeler segments for consumer convenience.
Maintenance:
The company claimed the bike has a 50 percent lower maintenance cost than other bikes.
Manufacturing Strategies:
Bajaj Auto’s Executive Director Rakesh Sharma said we would initially produce 10,000 units of the Freedom 125 monthly, retailing in Gujarat and Maharashtra, with plans to scale up to 40,000 units by the financial year’s end. Executive Director Rakesh Sharma mentioned that the automaker is also considering more models with flexi-CNG-petrol technology if this product succeeds.
The company has identified six export markets for the bike, but the initial focus remains on India. “Then we will look at exporting to Egypt, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Columbia, and Peru,” Sharma said.
The CEO of Bajaj Auto, Mr. Rajiv Bajaj said that the bike is an avatar of freedom and freedom from petrol. “India can show the world how we can move away from petrol and diesel and move towards cleaner fuel.”
Speaking to ET Now, Bajaj Auto’s Executive Director Rakesh Sharma earlier “said that the Bajaj CNG bike is the outcome of a very intense exercise over the last two to three years.
“It addresses a very large market size. Almost 70% of the one million per month market of motorcycles has some level of sensitivity to fuel economy,” he had said.
Reference of the Article:
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/auto/two-wheelers-three-wheelers.
