Petrol Cars vs CNG Cars : Buying a car is a big decision, and one of the most important things people look at is mileage. In India, where fuel prices are on the rise, mileage is extremely crucial. Two commonly used fuels today are petrol and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas). Both have their own benefits, but when it comes to mileage and saving money, which one is better? Let’s find out in simple language.
Mileage Comparison
CNG cars have a world-wide reputation for their mileage, which is. On an average, a CNG car provides about 25 to 35 km per kg of CNG, which varies with the model and driving mode. To this, most petrol cars provide about 15 to 20 km per litre. Therefore, if you are looking at figures alone, CNG cars definitely give better mileage.
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Also, CNG is cheaper than petrol. In every city, 1 kg of CNG is cheaper than 1 litre of petrol. That is, you pay less for more distance. For instance, if petrol costs RS 100 per litre and CNG costs Rs 75 per kg, driving the same distance by using CNG will cost you less.
Running Cost
If you compare the cost per kilometer, CNG vehicles win again. Suppose a petrol vehicle returns 17 km/l and petrol is priced at Rs 100. That is about Rs 5.88 per km. Now suppose a CNG vehicle returns 30 km/kg and CNG is priced at Rs 75. That is Rs 2.50 per km. That’s a huge saving, particularly if driven daily or over long distances.
Other Considerations
CNG cars are perfect for urban driving. They do have certain drawbacks as well. You will lose some space in the trunk due to the CNG tank. Power will also be less in CNG mode than with petrol. There are not petrol pumps everywhere in a town for CNG cars, so for long-distance drives, it might be a challenge without planning.
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On the contrary, petrol cars are more suitable for performance driving, highway use, and locations where there is no CNG pump. Petrol cars also do not require constant tuning as CNG cars require.