In one fill of 2 kg CNG and 2 litre petrol the 125cc bike gives a combined range of 330 kms
Company claims that the bike is both greener and lowers operating costs by up to 50%
Bike claimed to be completely safe with over a dozen stringent safety and crash tests done
CNG tank compactly packed in a trellis chassis for maximum safety
Available in three variants and five colours, price starting from ex-showroom Rs 95,000
Two-wheeler automobile major Bajaj Auto, boasting a history of innovation, has achieved another first. It has come out with the world’s first bi-fuel CNG-petrol 125 cc bike, Freedom 125, which it claims is both greener and lowers operating costs by up to 50% as compared to similar internal combustion (IC) engine bikes.
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And it is claimed to be perfectly safe, with the company maintaining that it has conducted more than a dozen rigorous safety and crash tests before bringing the bike into the market.
Priced ex-showroom starting at Rs 95,000, offering three variants and five colour options, the bike was inaugurated in the Chandigarh dealership of the company recently by UT Chandigarh Director Environment TC Nautiyal.
The dealership delivered 16 bikes to customers on the day of the inaugural.
Company officials claim that according to a survey over 75% of 2- wheeler customers rate fuel efficiency as a key attribute, and Freedom 125 addresses that perfectly. It also aligns with the Government of India’s push for building a nationwide CNG network, driven by the need to use cleaner fuels and save foreign exchange, they add.
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The CNG tank and kit, compactly packed in a trellis chassis for maximum safety, provides a range of 200+ km on just 2 kg of CNG fuel. The additional 2-liter petrol tank extends the range by over 130 km in case the CNG tank empties, giving a combined range of 330 kms.
The transition from CNG to petrol is near seamless with just flick of a switch with a relaxed throttle.
While packaging a CNG tank and kit, as well as the small petrol tank, in a compact vehicle like a bike was extremely challenging, the company through its innovations has been successful in achieving that without compromising on the aesthetics. While the small petrol tank remains at its traditional place, the elongated CNG cylinder has been placed under an extralong flat seat, with separate side-by-side inlets for filling up the bi-fuels.
At 147kg, the Freedom is slightly heavy for a 125cc commuter bike, but it feels only when pushing the bike into a parking, for example, not while riding the bike.
CNG a greener fuel
Company officials explain that CNG combustion produces approximately 26.7% less CO2 emissions than petrol. Additionally, CNG vehicles emit 85% lower NMHC’s (non-methane hydrocarbons) and 43% less NOx (nitrogen oxide).
