World's First CNG Powered Bike is Here!

Bajaj Auto has launched the world's first CNG-powered motorbike, named Bajaj Freedom 125. This bike runs on petrol but can switch to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) with the press of a button. While CNG-powered cars have been around for over a decade, this is the first motorcycle to use this technology, not just in India but globally. The price of the bike starts at Rs 95,000 for the base 'Drum' variant.?

The Freedom 125 has been launched in three variants: NG04 Disc LED, NG04 Drum LED and NG04 Drum. The LED variants are available in five colour options and the non-LED Drum variant is available in two colours.?

Here's the detailed pricing (ex-showroom):?

? NG04 Disc LED :- Rs 1,10,000?

? NG04 Drum LED :- ?Rs 1,05,000

? NG04 Drum :- Rs 95,000

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.? ?

The Freedom 125 features the “longest seat” in its category — “26 per cent longer” than conventional 125 cc motorcycles. Environmentally, the company claimed, the new motorcycle reduces CO2 emissions by 26.7 per cent compared to petrol, alongside an 85 per cent reduction in non-methane hydrocarbons and a 43 per cent reduction in nitrogen oxides.

Bajaj advocated for reducing the tax rate on cleaner fuel vehicles from the current 28 per cent to around 12 per cent, noting that EVs in India are taxed at 5 per cent. ?

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari expressed his “mission” to reduce air pollution and fossil fuel imports (India imports Rs 20 trillion worth of fossil fuels). He highlighted ongoing projects for making CNG from rice straw (bio-CNG), with 60 projects operational and 400 more in the pipeline. He suggested Bajaj Auto consider a bike running on 100 per cent bioethanol, noting that the company already offers flex-fuel options for ethanol and petrol-powered bikes in its Pulsar and Dominar ranges.

See you soon! - The Mechanic