With gasoline and diesel prices skyrocketing over the past year, options for more affordable vehicles are a priority for many customers in the country. India has seen sales of electric vehicles and CNG powered cars soar than ever in the past 12 months.
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Electric car sales are still much lower compared to total vehicle sales in the country, but they have increased sharply compared to last year. Electric vehicles contributed 42,067 units in November this year alone, compared to just 12,858 units in the same period in 2020. Around 1.98 lakh units of electric vehicles had been sold since April of this year through the beginning of this month.
On the other hand, CNG vehicles have also experienced significant growth in the current financial year. By November, CNG car sales rose 56 percent, with 1,336,357 units sold in the past eight months.
CNG cars cost less to run than gasoline or diesel cars, while electric cars offer more for the money. But both types of vehicles have their share of concerns. Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons of a CNG car versus an electric car.
CNG vehicles: advantages
CNG cars or vehicles that run on compressed natural gas have been around in India for some time. Several automakers, including Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor, generate a significant portion of their sales from such vehicles. While some automakers offer CNG kits as a retrofit kit, such kits are also available from dealers.
One of the main advantages of owning a CNG vehicle is the lack of dependence on fossil fuels and the lower running costs. The price of CNG is much lower than the price of gasoline and fuel despite the recent price increases. CNG cars are making more sense now after fuel prices rose unprecedented in the past year. For example, one liter of gasoline now costs ₹95.41 in Delhi while the price of CNG is Rs. 53.04 for the same amount.
CNG cars also offer a choice of running on either gasoline or diesel. So if you run out of CNG, it is not a problem if there are still a few drops in the tank to take the car to the nearest CNG filling station.
CNG also offers a cleaner ride than fossil fuel vehicles. This is one of the reasons the Delhi government banned all CNG cars from driving on roads during the odd-even program to reduce vehicle pollution.
CNG vehicles: disadvantages
Owning a CNG car isn’t always a hassle-free option. Once a CNG kit is added to a car, there is a huge amount of space that the owner has to sacrifice for the cylinder. A CNG kit is usually installed in the trunk of a car, making it difficult for passengers to load their heavy luggage into the vehicle.
Second, one wonders why CNG isn’t mainstream enough to be available across the country. Outside certain states or cities, finding a CNG station is difficult, making it difficult for owners to drive their cars without fossil fuels for a long journey.
Third, using CNG as a fuel tends to degrade a vehicle’s performance over a period of time. A car’s performance could be up to 10 percent less than when using gasoline or diesel. However, it is possible that the owners won’t complain much given the low fuel cost.
Electric vehicles: advantages
Electric vehicles in India recently got a boost when a number of states announced their individual guidelines for electric vehicles. These electric car guidelines usually provided introductory incentives that encouraged more buyers to switch to electric cars. Even now, there are some places where there are no RTO fees or road taxes when buying an electric vehicle, which makes owning an electric vehicle worthwhile.
Electric cars are also the cheapest to drive. The running costs of an electric vehicle, which in certain cases are less than a rupee, are even cheaper than a CNG vehicle. There is almost no maintenance, which almost eliminates regular maintenance for customers.
Electric vehicles are also preferred worldwide because of their zero emissions. At a time when almost every country is committed to reducing CO2 emissions in the fight against pollution, electric vehicles are the perfect choice for personal mobility.
Electric vehicles: disadvantages
All the good things about electric vehicles stall in India when it comes to price. Because of the high cost of batteries, the price of electric vehicles is higher than that of normal cars. Even electric two-wheelers cost a lot more than their ICE counterparts. It’s one of the biggest deal breakers for customers looking to switch to electric vehicles.
Those who are ready to make the switch face another major challenge – range fear. The challenge is also directly related to the lack of EV infrastructure in the country. While it is easier to park a car at a gas station to refuel, it is still a hassle to find an electric vehicle charging station. And even if you can find a place, they are often too far and too little. Most of the affordable EVs offer a range of less than 400 km on a single charge, which discourages EV owners from taking the risk of long journeys with no preparation or alternatives.
