Difference Between CNG and Electric Cars: Which One Should You Buy?

The rising fuel prices have pushed consumers to consider alternative options, leading to an increase in the sales of electric and CNG-powered vehicles. As of November 2021, the number of electric vehicles sold rose from 12,858 to 42,067 in a year. Similarly, there was a 56% increment in the sales of CNG vehicles between April to November 2021.

However, it is essential to perform a comparison between CNG and electric cars and weigh their advantages and disadvantages to select the correct variant that fits your requirement.

Source: amarujala

A CNG is an environmental-friendly fuel alternative to petrol and diesel. CNG cars are those that utilise CNG as a fuel to operate.

A cylinder usually placed at the vehicle's boot space stores the natural gas. The heavily pressurised natural gas flows from the fuel tank through fuel lines. The pressure regulator present at the fuel lines lowers the pressure to a level that matches with the engine's fuel injection system.

The fuel is injected into a combustion chamber or intake manifold, where it mixes with air and is compressed. Finally, a spark plug ignites this compressed fuel to operate the vehicle.

Take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of CNG cars:

Pros of CNG Cars

• CNG does not rely on fossil fuels, is environmentally friendly and emits less harmful gases, unlike petrol and diesel.
• The running cost is lower than electric vehicles
• It is a cheaper alternative fuel to petrol and diesel
• CNG vehicles also provide a choice to drive on petrol or diesel. So, if your car runs out of CNG, you can still drive down to the nearest CNG station using the petrol option.

Cons of CNG Cars

• You need to install a CNG kit in the boot space of your car that occupies a substantial space, making it difficult to load luggage at the back of your vehicle
• It is essential to understand that building CNG stations are still in the development process, and hence it is not easy to find them beyond specific states or cities such as Delhi and Mumbai.
• Driving a vehicle using CNG may lower the car's power output by 10% than using diesel or petrol.

An electric motor propels an electric car by utilising the energy stored in a battery. As a user, you must plug your electric vehicle into charging equipment, also known as electric vehicle supply equipment.

Here are the advantages and disadvantages of an electric cars:

Pros of Electric Cars

• Since an electric vehicle operates using electricity, it has no emissions and is an eco-friendly alternative to petrol and diesel.
• The government provides tax benefits on purchasing electric cars to encourage consumers to buy more electric vehicles and control pollution levels. Moreover, several states extend subsidies that lower the buying cost.
• The running cost is lower than all other fuel-powered vehicles available in the market.
• Every electric vehicle features single gear automatic transmission, making them convenient to drive in traffic or highways.
• You do not have to bear the maintenance cost as well as it is not operated via combustion engines or complex parts.

Cons of Electric Cars

• The electric vehicle is expensive due to the higher cost of batteries.
• It is difficult to find electric vehicle charging stations.
• Affordable electric cars may cover less than 400 kilometres after receiving a single charge. Therefore, travelling a long distance using an electric vehicle is not suitable without preparing for alternatives.