From petrol to CNG: Converting your car for eco-friendly driving

The increasing costs of traditional fuel and the rising pollution levels have made people in the automobile sector look for alternatives that are good for nature and their pockets. One such alternative fuel option that has become quite popular in India is Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). If you are someone who is looking for ways to convert their existing petrol-driven car to CNG-powered, this article can be insightful for you.

How can we convert petrol cars to CNG?

In modern times, many popular car manufacturers have started offering factory-installed CNG kits with their four-wheelers. So, if you already own a petrol car and are thinking whether it can converted to run on CNG, then you are in luck. Though the procedure is complicated, you can make a petrol car run on CNG by installing an aftermarket CNG kit. However, you should know that there are a lot of things you need to check beforehand and do correctly to make this work.

Now that you have an answer to “How can we convert petrol cars to CNG?”, learn about the types of CNG kits for cars available in India:

1. Factory-fitted kit: They come preinstalled from the automaker and are designed specifically for that vehicle model. They are a bit expensive but safer compared to aftermarket options and don’t void the warranty.

2. Aftermarket kit: These are universal kits that can fit any car model. They are a bit cheaper but also less safe and may void the vehicle’s warranty.

Things to consider before installing a CNG Kit

If you are considering installing a CNG kit in your car, there are a few things you need to go over first. These include things like:

1. Verify compatibility: Before even thinking about turning your petrol car into a CNG-driven, make sure it is compatible to run on CNG.

2. Get official approval: Before installing a CNG kit in your car, notify the government and get official approval. Also, you may be required to change the fuel type of your car in the RC.

3. Buy kits from authorised dealers: Avoid buying a low-quality product. Instead, go for well-known kits from authorised dealers.

4. Consider maintenance: Before turning your petrol car to CNG-driven, make sure to add up its running cost, maintenance and availability of CNG fuel stations in your locality.

5. Run pre-checks: Before installation of the CNG kit, make sure the CNG tank is hydro-tested for leaks.

Installation of CNG kit in the car

The process of installing a CNG kit in a car is very complicated and should only be done by a professional. For your general reference, the parts associated with the kit include:

• Gas/air mixer

• CNG tank

• CNG filling valve

• Pressure regulator

• Manometer

• High-pressure line

• Emulator

• Heating system

• Selector switch

After installation of the above-mentioned parts is done correctly, the kit needs to be tested a few times for any fault. If everything runs smoothly following the inspection, you can start the engine in petrol mode and then seamlessly switch to CNG as needed.

Conclusion

There are tons of benefits to switching to CNG from petrol, such as it is more affordable, offers flexible fuel usage and has less impact on the environment. Though the procedure is complex, you can turn your petrol car to run on CNG by installing an aftermarket kit. However, it's essential to update your car insurance policy to cover the CNG kit and ensure compliance with regulations.