CNG cars have been promoted as a cleaner, greener option than standard gas-fueled cars. However before you rush out and get one, there are a few integral cons you should know about. We should explore it.
The Cons of CNG Vehicles
- Limited Driving Range
One of the greatest disadvantages of CNG cars is their restricted driving reach. Contrasted with gasoline tanks, CNG tanks are bulkier and can’t hold as much fuel. That implies your full tank won’t take you close to the extent that a regular vehicle before expecting to refuel.
On average, CNG vehicles have a scope of just 100-200 miles for per tank. For really long travel or even everyday driving from the suburbs, that is simply not exceptionally practical. You’d stop for fuel continually, which is a significant burden.
- Sparse Refueling Stations
Speaking of refuelling, finding CNG stations can be like finding a needle in a haystack. There are something like 6,200 public CNG stations across the whole of India – and many states don’t have a solitary one.
Except if you live in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, or Bangalore with respectable CNG infrastructure, running out of fuel could leave you abandoned with not many choices to top off neighbouring. Road trips would require extremely careful planning around limited station locations.
- Higher Upfront Costs
While CNG is cheaper than gasoline at the pump, CNG cars cost significantly higher upfront than comparable gasoline models. And it doesn’t factor in potentially costly home refuelling equipment if you want that convenience.
- Performance Tradeoffs
Another drawback is that CNG engines generally can’t match the power and acceleration of gasoline counterparts. The lesser energy density of CNG translates to lower performance capabilities.
You may experience sluggish acceleration from stop lights and highway merges. There’s also often a small reduction in overall horsepower and torque output compared to gasoline engine variants. So you’re giving up some fun factor for the sake of alternative fueling.
- Trunk/Cargo Space Compromises
Finally, the large CNG tank has to go somewhere – and that means sacrificing a good chunk of trunk or cargo space in your vehicle. The bulky tank intrudes into what would normally be a usable storage room.
Depending on the model, you could be losing 25-50% of your trunk capacity to fit the CNG tank. That’s a tough tradeoff for anyone who needs to regularly haul larger items or maximize cargo room for road trips.
So while CNG vehicles offer benefits like lower emissions and fuel costs, they come with some pretty significant real-world limitations too. Weigh the pros and cons carefully before deciding if a CNG car is truly practical for your driving needs.
Conclusion
So in the end, CNG cars may seem like they’re better for the environment and your wallet. But when you look under the hood, you see there are still issues. Converting your car is pricey. Refueling stations are scarce. Maintenance is tough. And the emissions aren’t squeaky clean. Sure, we all want to make earth-friendly choices. But CNG vehicles just aren’t quite there yet for most drivers. Stick with what you’ve got or go hybrid. And if we all drive a little less, and carpool a little more, we can make a difference too. Small changes add up. We don’t all need a CNG car to do our part.
