Now, here's a Lovato CNG kit for the Honda Activa. Could this be a solution to our polluted cities?
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Imagine our cities minus the smog. Imagine breathing clean air on the commute to work every morning. Although such fantasies may remain in the realm of imagination for now, clean mobility has slowly been gaining acceptance across India with electric vehicles slowly hitting the mainstream.
CNG-powered vehicles have been around for some time now, with a few manufactures offering conversion kits straight from the factory, and several more aftermarket options as well. Lovato gas kits for petrol cars have been around for many years, and the company has now started offering gas conversion kits for two-wheelers as well. It may be some time till we see a CNG-powered motorcycle, but Lovato seem to have done a great job with this Honda Activa scooter.
CNG cylinders mounted in a panel in the front. Pics/Saurabh Botre
The Honda Activa on these pages features two CNG cylinders concealed behind the front panel of the scooter within a black plastic enclosure, while the supplementary plumbing for the gas runs beneath the floorboard. As with all CNG vehicles, this Activa is fitted with a little toggle, to switch between petrol- and gas-powered modes, while the filler valve for the cylinders is located near the rider's left foot. The cylinders have a combined capacity of 1.2 to 1.4 kilograms of gas, so a fill-up costs around Rs 60 for a range of 100 to 110 kilometres, endowing this scooter with admirable running costs in the midst of today's increasing fuel prices.
CNG regulator occupies a chunk of the under-seat storage space
Hop on and hit the starter and the CNG-powered Activa purrs to life no differently than a regular petrol-powered scooter. Acceleration is somewhat subdued, however once cruising at 60 km/h, it feels just like a regular Honda Activa. Handling and braking also don't seem to be affected by the added weight of the conversion hardware. However, quick overtakes take a little more planning when on gas power. Switching over to petrol mode and back makes for a seamless transition and the added power on tap when running on petrol is immediately apparent. However, the better efficiency when using CNG definitely outweighs this performance deficit, especially in an urban environment.
You can switch between petrol and CNG on the go
One parameter where the CNG-converted Activa loses points is in the space taken up by the new hardware. The once spacious legroom on the floorboard has been shortened to make way for the cylinders, and the gas filler valve makes things worse on the left side. We were constantly trying to find a comfortable position for our left foot, as the only options are to have that foot sticking out over the road, or resting on the filler valve. Under-seat storage space has also been compromised, as the CNG regulator is placed in here, so forget about squeezing in a full-face helmet, although there's still plenty of room for other odds and ends.
All said and done, the Honda Activa with Lovato CNG kit is a viable, clean and cost-effective alternative for the urban commute, while still retaining over five litres of fuel capacity should you wish to go farther than the CNG tanks can take you. With the cost to distance ratio when using gas, this system, which will set you back by Rs 14,500, including fitting charges, will easily pay for itself with regular use, saving money that would otherwise be spent
on petrol.
This is a great initiative by Lovato to get cleaner and cheaper mobility within the reach of our country's many scooter-owners, especially at a time when green transportation is gaining acceptance in our crowded metros. Hopefully, the time when our cities are completely smog-free isn't too far away.
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