Bharati gears up for CNG motorbike launch
Hollywood motorcycle drama The Bikeriders is in cinemas, but even more good news awaits Indian bikers.
They can soon put on their leather jackets and Ray-Bans and save money with the first CNG-fuelled bike. Mumbai-based Bharati Fire Engineers is gearing up to supply fuel tanks to Pune-based Bajaj Auto, expected to launch the CNG-fuelled bike next month (July 2024).
"We understand the launch will happen around July 5, and (road transport minister) Nitin Gadkari will preside," says an industry source. News reports say this will be the world's first CNG-fuelled motorbike.
Bharati is one of three companies to supply fuel tanks for these 'Bajaj Bruzer' brand bikes. "Bajaj teams began trials from March (2024) of their bikes fitted with our CNG tanks," says Bharati CEO Jai Gosar.
"We received (mandatory) PESO (Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation) approval in March (2024)." Earlier this month (June 2024), Bharati launched the first of three CNG fuel tank production lines at its factory in Aurangabad in Maharashtra.
"Our first line has a capacity of 12,000 CNG tanks/month," adds Gosar. "The manufacturing line can be tweaked to produce CNG tanks for either two or three or four or even six-wheeled vehicles."
CNG tanks for two-wheelers have a capacity of 12.5 litres; for three-wheelers, the CNG tank capacity ranges from 30 litres to 40 litres; for four-wheelers, the capacity is from 60 to 150 litres. Gosar expects the upcoming Bajaj CNG-fuelled bike to be priced aggressively and to attract many buyers because "a CNG bike will have half the running cost of a petrol bike."
He expects sales of at least 25,000 CNG bikes/month. "That many CNG fuel tanks will be needed," he stresses.
Bharati's second and third CNG tank manufacturing lines, each with a 12,000 tanks/month capacity, will go onstream at its Aurangabad factory in 2025 and 2026. With additional investments and modifications, these production lines can also turn out cylinders to store hydrogen for use in factories and cars.