World's first affordable CNG motorcycle to slash running costs by 50-65%

The world's first mass-produced CNG motorcycle, the Pulsar NS400Z, will be launched on 18 June 2024. The vehicle from Bajaj Auto will be positioned in the lower end of the price range and is just one of many that will follow. With petrol prices on the rise, alternative fuel concepts such as hydrogen or battery-powered electric motors are becoming increasingly important for motorcycles.

Motorbikes are powered by CNG (compressed natural gas) in a similar way to that of cars. The natural gas is stored under high pressure in a cylindrical motorcycle tank, from where it is pumped through fuel lines via a pressure regulator. It then reaches the engine where it is mixed with air and burned to power the engine. Although conversion kits are available for motorcycles that can then be fuelled with compressed natural gas, there is no mass production model yet.

In addition to the cheaper cost of natural gas, CNG motorcycles have lower CO2 and pollutant emissions than petrol or diesel motorcycles. According to an interview with CEO Rajiv Bajaj on CNBC-TV18 in 2023, the prototype achieved "a 75 percent reduction in carbon monoxide" compared to a petrol bike, and almost no non-methane hydrocarbons were detected. There is, however, one fly in the ointment: compressed natural gas stations are not yet widespread.

The exact name of the car is still under wraps, but the company registered the first possible brand names several months ago, such as Marathon, Glider, Trekker, Freedom and more. Engine specifications are also unknown, and it is uncertain whether the sketchy design details of the prototype will make it into the production model.

Although prototypes have been spotted on the roads, they were still conventional combustion engine bikes before they were converted to CNG bikes. A Bajaj Platina 110 model spotted by ZigWheels could indicate that the CNG motorcycle could run as a 110cc equivalent. In addition, RushLane has provided photos of other prototypes that suggest the possibility of a 125cc engine and dual fuel system.