Why is cng called a clean fuel?
As someone who converted my car to CNG, I can tell you it's called clean for several practical reasons:
- Better for city air: CNG vehicles don't produce the black smoke you see from diesel vehicles
- Cheaper operation: Cost per kilometer is about half of petrol
- Longer engine life: CNG burns cleaner, causing less engine wear
- Safer than petrol: Lighter than air, so it dissipates quickly if leaked
The main drawback is the reduced boot space for the tank and slightly less power, but for city driving, it's perfect. India has been pushing CNG aggressively to combat air pollution in cities like Delhi. It's not zero-emission like electric vehicles, but it's definitely a big step cleaner than conventional fuels!
CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) is called a clean fuel because it produces significantly fewer pollutants compared to gasoline or diesel. Here's why it's considered environmentally friendly:
- Lower carbon emissions: CNG produces 20-30% less CO2 than gasoline
- Fewer particulate matter: Almost zero soot or smoke emissions
- Reduced nitrogen oxides: Produces much lower NOx emissions that cause smog
- Minimal sulfur: Virtually no sulfur dioxide emissions that cause acid rain
- Non-toxic: Doesn't contaminate soil or water in case of leaks
When CNG burns, it's primarily methane combining with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water vapor - much cleaner combustion than petroleum fuels that produce various harmful byproducts. This makes it excellent for improving urban air quality, which is why many cities mandate CNG for public transport.