Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Friday launched Bajaj Auto’s new bike Freedom, touted to be the world’s first CNG motorcycle.
The minister called the bike “eco-friendly” and “sustainable”. While praising the vehicle, Gadkari also said that air, sound, and water pollution are a big concern for the country. At the same time, he added, India imports fossil fuel worth Rs 20 lakh crore, which is also a big challenge.
“We are the third largest automobile industry (in the world) and it is the growth engine for the country…the industry now is not cost-centric but quality-centric. And that is the reason I am confident that within five years, we will be second in automobile manufacturing in the world,” Gadkari said.
In a post on social media site X, he called it a “groundbreaking innovation”, promising significant savings in operating costs and pollution reduction.
“With this eco-friendly vehicle, Bajaj Auto sets a new standard in sustainable transportation, paving the way for a greener future,” he said.
Freedom, launched with the tag Ride the Change, according to Bajaj Auto, promises to halve daily riding expenses and has the segment’s most spacious seat, designed for superior comfort and additional room.
“Navigate bumpy roads with ease, thanks to its unparalleled mono-linked suspension system, ensuring a fluid and stable journey. Additionally, the motorcycle includes a 2-litre auxiliary petrol tank, elevating the convenience factor for riders,” the company said in the bike’s description.
The tank capacity of the CNG cylinder in Bajaj Freedom is 12.5 litres/2 kg with a range of 100 km/kg. The users will be able to switch between CNG and petrol mode by using the switch on the left handlebar.
As per the Bajaj Auto website, the ex-showroom price of the bike starts from Rs 1.10 lakh. The company also said that the motorcycle and its engine are specifically designed to suit the characteristics of CNG, which is hot and dry.
“The piston shape and the engine’s machinery are tailored to work optimally with CNG as fuel. This bike has bigger cooling jets compared to standard 125 cc bikes, along with larger fins, to enhance the cooling process and manage the engine temperature effectively,” the description added.
Listing the safety features, the company said that Bajaj Freedom’s trellis frame serves as a robust protective enclosure for the CNG tank, which is further safeguarded by an additional tank shield.
“Rigorous and comprehensive safety testing has been conducted on the bikes, particularly focusing on the resilience of the CNG kit. This includes a variety of impact tests such as frontal, rear, and side collisions, as well as extreme scenarios like being run over by a truck and pendulum impact assessments,” it added.
The CNG tank installed in Bajaj Freedom has received official certification from the Petroleum & Explosive Safety Organisation, ensuring compliance with government safety standards, Bajaj Auto said.
The bike is available in five colours – Caribbean Blue, Ebony Black, Cyber White, Racing Red, and Pewter Grey.
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