The great separation of CNG and Electric cars in Nigeria

With the hike in the price of fuel in Nigeria, other options and alternatives to our regular petrol cars are coming up. Though electric vehicles have been there for a while now, lately, there have been conversations about compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles. Although people think that electric vehicles are a good alternative, the upfront payment makes it difficult for an average Nigerian to afford them. So, CNG is another option that should be considered. In this article, we will explore electric vehicles and CNG vehicles and give an understanding of what they are about.

Overview of CNG vehicles

CNG vehicles are vehicles that run on compressed natural gas (CNG). CNG is a clean-burning fuel that is stored on high-pressure cylinders. It is made from natural gas, primarily composed of methane. CNG is produced by compressing natural gas to less than 1% of its volume at standard pressure. Some of the advantages of CNG vehicles are that they are cost-effective and environmentally friendly. 

How does CNG work?

 Compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles work just like gasoline cars. They have engines that operate like gasoline engines. However, natural gas is stored in a fuel tank, or cylinder, typically at the back of the vehicle. So the vehicle uses the natural gas stored in the tank. The CNG system sends high-pressure gas from the tank through fuel lines, where a regulator lowers the pressure to a level the engine can use. The gas then mixes with air in the engine’s manifold or combustion chamber and is ignited by a spark plug. CNG vehicles are a type of alternative fuel vehicle and are different from those that use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is mainly propane.

Overview of Electric Vehicles

Basically, electric vehicles are vehicles that use an electric motor instead of a gasoline engine. They use electric technologies like battery electric cars, plug-in hybrids, and fuel cell vehicles. The advantages of electric vehicles are that they produce low to no carbon emissions, are very efficient, and can easily connect to the energy grid, helping to create a cleaner and more sustainable transportation system. Although electric vehicles are more expensive than normal conventional vehicles, the cost of maintenance and the fact that they are fuel-efficient help save money.

How do electric cars work?

All-electric vehicles use an electric motor instead of a gas engine. They rely on a large battery to power the motor and need to be plugged into a wall outlet or charging station. Since they run on electricity, they don’t produce exhaust and don’t have typical fuel parts like a fuel pump, fuel line, or gas tank.

Which is better for Nigerians? CNG vehicles or electric vehicles

Deciding on which is a better option for Nigerians is based on several factors. They include; 

Affordability 

In terms of affordability, EVs are more expensive than CNG, but with time and more advanced technology, the price of getting an EV is likely to come down. A report done by InsideEVs says that the only electric vehicle you can get for about 35 million naira is a used one. Other than that, the lowest model of an electric vehicle is sold for about 60 million naira. 

CNG, on the other hand, is cheaper. Actually, CNGs are only slightly more expensive than petrol cars. This is because CNG vehicles are just converted from petrol cars. The cost of converting a petrol car to a CNG car is about 1.5 million naira. The price, however, differs based on the size of the engine. But this price is likely to come down when we have more experts doing the conversion from petrol to CNG. 

Cost of Maintenance 

When it comes to the cost of maintenance, the cost of maintaining an EV is way cheaper than the cost of maintaining a CNG car. The only thing you may likely change often is the windshield washer fluid. Other than that, it doesn’t require you to change the oil and spark plug like a regular car.

Even though CNG cars are cleaner than petrol cars, they still need regular maintenance, like oil changes, spark plug replacements, and air filter changes. But the good thing is that CNG engines generally experience less wear and tear because it is cleaner than fuel. This means fewer deposits build-up, resulting in less wear on engine parts and fewer frequent maintenance needs.

Infrastructure 

The availability of infrastructure, such as EV charging stations, CNG stations, and petrol stations, is currently not common, which can make it difficult to keep these vehicles working. However, if you have a home charger and a good source of light, using an EV would be easier. CNG also would be available in no time as it is already a work in progress.

Conclusion 

With the price of fuel today, the option of both CNG and electric vehicles is good, though they both have their pros and cons. Both the CNG and the electric vehicle come with a more clean and environmentally friendly option. However, EVs are quite expensive and require a large upfront payment, while CNGs are just slightly more expensive than normal cars. A great advantage of EVs over CNG is the fact that electric vehicles come with little or no cost of maintenance. CNG still requires maintenance like normal cars, just not as much. Even though the infrastructure for both of them is not ready in Nigeria at the moment, they are, however, both better alternatives to petrol cars; your choice ultimately depends on your budget.