Bajaj Freedom 125 — How does CNG tech work?

The Bajaj Freedom 125 is the world’s first CNG-powered motorcycle. We explain how CNG technology works for two-wheelers.

With CNG vehicles gaining popularity in India, Bajaj introduced CNG-powered three-wheelers in India many years ago, which has become the standard now. Bajaj is now looking to make big strides in the two-wheeler space as well, with the introduction of the Bajaj Freedom 125, the world’s first CNG-powered motorcycle.

Many know a traditional internal combustion engine works on two-wheelers — the same as four-wheelers. However, what many don’t know is how CNG technology works on vehicles, and with the introduction of the Freedom 125, this tech gets more interesting. So here’s how CNG technology works on the Bajaj Freedom 125 and other vehicles.

How does CNG tech work?

CNG vehicles need a separate tank to hold compressed gas | Image: Bajaj

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) can be used as fuel in a traditional internal combustion engine, hence, the basic requirement is the same. CNG vehicles require a separate tank to store the fuel, while the ECU of the vehicle also needs to be a dedicated unit to tell the systems what fuel the vehicle is running on — petrol or CNG.

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The user can switch between petrol or CNG to run the vehicle and when CNG is selected, the compressed gas from the dedicated CNG tank travels through a series of high-pressure lines to a regulator. The regulator then adjusts the pressure of the CNG gas according to what the fuel injector is capable of, which is then sprayed into the engine.

Once the cylinder gets the right amount of CNG, the following steps are similar to an internal combustion engine, where there is a compression stroke, an ignition stroke where the CNG is ignited, followed by an exhaust stroke that removes gases.

Also Read Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG: Variants Explained

CNG tech on the Bajaj Freedom 125

The CNG tank can be filled from the traditional position | Image: Bajaj

The Bajaj Freedom 125 gets a dedicated CNG tank under the fuel tank, which can hold 2kg, alongside a petrol tank that holds 2-litres of petrol. The rider can switch between petrol or CNG and the engine, a 125cc, air-cooled unit, makes 9.3bhp and 9.7Nm of torque, with the help of a 5-speed gearbox.

Also, since CNG can be dangerous because it is held in a compressed form in a highly pressurised tank, Bajaj has taken all possible means to keep the tank safe. Bajaj has also showcased how the Freedom 125 has been crash-tested, and run over by trucks while the CNG tank remains intact.