Nowadays, a lot of people are switching to CNG-powered cars, the reason being that CNG-powered cars are light on the pocket to run. They also provide far superior mileage when compared to their petrol and diesel counterparts. And what’s more, the emissions of a CNG-powered car are far less than petrol and diesel, making it environment-friendly too! 😊

That said, CNG-powered cars do have their own drawbacks. CNG is highly combustible when compared to petrol or diesel. It literally takes a single spark to ignite, just as it takes a spark to light your gas stove at home!

Though manufacturers of CNG-powered cars use the latest technology and manufacture their vehicles with utmost precaution to make them completely safe to use, there are always those rare unfortunate circumstances where a minuscule leak from the CNG cylinder or pipeline could spell disaster!

So, to ensure that you are always safe in your beloved CNG-powered car, you need to take some precautions of your own.

Follow these simple steps to ensure your CNG powered car’s safety:

• Get your CNG cylinder and equipment checked by a professional at least once every 5 years for regular wear and tear.
• CNG cylinder pressure should not exceed 200 bars. You can check that on the gauge that is fitted on the CNG filling machine.
• Always turn off your car engine and keep the key in ‘Off’ position before CNG refilling begins.
• Do not use mobile phones and other electronic devices during CNG refilling.
• Owing to high temperatures in summer, it is a good idea to restrict CNG refilling to two-thirds of the actual cylinder capacity.
• Preferably, park CNG-fitted vehicles under a shade or covered area.
• Last but not the least, we strongly recommend that you do not light up cigarettes inside your CNG car. As it is, cigarettes are bad for your health. In a CNG-powered car, the consequences can be far more disastrous, for obvious reasons!

While these are things that should be followed before a mishap occurs, what do you do after? Well, if you have car insurance that covers your CNG fuel tank, you will at least be covered for the repairs in case of a partial damage or get the entire price of your car in case of a total loss. And in case you have a Personal Accident cover, that is mandated by the IRDAI, if there’s an injury or death of the owner driver, there is a compensation offered for it, up to ₹15 lakhs.

Follow these simple precautions so that you avoid any unfortunate incidents like the one that happened recently in New Delhi.

Better be safe than sorry!