Introduction

Fuel Consumption is a significant aspect of the transport business particularly in India where there is a high usage of commercial vehicles. Fleet managers as well as truck owners always seek to bring down their operating expenditures, save more money and enhance the efficiency of their vehicles. A few years ago, CNG trucks began to gain popularity as Environmental concerns emerged. But the question remains, which one is better concerning cost for efficiency and mileage, Diesel vs CNG trucks?

In this review, we have done Diesel vs CNG Trucks comparison aiming to detail the features, benefits as well as drawbacks of each fuel type and more in particular, which would work best depending on your operational requirements.

Understanding Diesel and CNG trucks

What Is Diesel Trucks?

Diesel trucks are heavy-duty trucks equipped with diesel engines which are also used in passenger cars. The engines operate on the principle of compressing air which is then mixed with fuel resulting in a high power point which optimizes the efficiency of operation.

In India, diesel trucks are favored for long distance transport because of its cost efficiency. Diesel trucks are well suited for heavy duty work as they produce more power and torque than the petrol variant. Diesel trucks are simple to fill up as there’s a robust fuel infrastructure already build for them, making it an even easier option for fleet owners.

What Are CNG trucks?

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks, in contrast, utilize CNG stored in high pressure tanks. CNG is a cleaner option compared to petrol, or diesel, as they burn more and don’t emit harmful gases as much as other fuels do.

In India, Tata Motors and Eicher Motors are among the many manufacturers offering CNG powered trucks, the popularity of these trucks is rising in India as a result. These trucks are termed as environmentally friendly and actively decrease the carbon imprint of commercial fleets. Despite all the benefits CNG trucks provide, their infrastucture in India is limited which poses as a challenge.

Mileage Comparison – Diesel vs CNG Trucks

Diesel trucks Mileage

When it comes to the fuel consumption of the vehicles, diesel trucks have the upper hand when compared to the rest. Based off other indicators, diesel trucks can go anywhere between 6 to 8 kilometers on a liter however that number is fluctuated by the load, the terrain, and the driver themselves. On long, straight highways diesel trucks forgo the necessity of frequent refuels in order to cover great distances.

Although, in the case of unforgiving terrains, diesel trucks become fuel dependent and in curves or steep inclines frequently require refuels.

CNG trucks Mileage

On the other hand, if we compare Diesel trucks with CNG trucks, we will note that CNG trucks while having the same size of fuel tank, consume far larger amounts of gasoline. The fuel efficiency of CNG vehicles is where they are noticeably deficient as they are only able to consume anywhere between 3 to 5 kilometers per kilogram which is much lower than diesel trucks.

The increased fuel consumption can be expected given the fact that Diesel is far more advanced than CNG as it is forth in the market. The consumption of fuel is also impacted by the size of the fuel tanks as CNG has a small fuel tank which results in frequent need of refuels however those have negative consequences while driving over long distances.

In a more straightforward approach not including the technicalities, CNG is much more beneficial over time as the cost is significantly lower. The only downside is that CNG is less substantiated than diesel fuel.

Key Takeaways

• Diesel vs CNG Trucks mileage: So to summarize we can note that the fuel efficiency of the CNG trucks is inferior to that of diesel however for city routes CNG is much more economical as mentioned above.
• Given its emission and fuel cost, CNG trucks exhibit more benefit for urban driving
• Especially in an urban setting CNG trucks have lower operational costs and will benefit you long term.

Environmental Impact and Fuel Costs

Environmental Benefits of CNG trucks

CNG trucks are eco-friendly and have a unique effect than the other counterparts. This type of fuel is cleaner than diesel which is a huge benefit as it emits less toxins When paired with CNG trucks, they reduce CO₂ emission up to 95% and particulate up considerably, therefore CNG trucks become an ideal tool for diminishing the pollution problem.

If you are a fleet owner and worrying because you have to meet tough emission specifications in India, then CNG trucks are the solution for you because they are environmentally friendly.

Economic Aspects of Diesel vs CNG Trucks

• Diesel Fuel Prices: Diesel is more likely to be more costly than petrol and even though it has been cheaper than petrol, it’s cost is not constant per location and varies from state to state which raises the cost of fuel depending on the if the state is petrol based.
• CNG Fuel Costs: CNG is frequently more economical than diesel. Since there is less demand for it than for diesel and petrol, the price is more stable. So for individuals looking to lower their fuel costs it becomes a viable solution.
• Long-Term Savings: Using CNG results in considerable savings in the long run due to the low cost of fuel per KM, although mileage is lower.

Performance Considerations (Power and Maintenance)

Performance of Diesel Trucks

It is a well-known fact that diesel trucks have high power and therefore are ideal suitable for heavy duty and long hauls. Easy to operate on the highway and on hilly areas because of the extra torque they are able to generate.

Diesel trucks are however expensive to maintain since they have an expensive engine that takes a beating because of soot build up from burning diesel.

CNG trucks Performance

In terms of diesel vs CNG Trucks performance, the difference comes in the power, diesel trucks have more. In terms of diesel trucks CNG trucks tend to have around less ten percent of the power and torque, aspects of driving up steep hills or lifting heavy items might be a little slower. On the other hand CNG trucks tend to operate smoother, have less noise on engines, and have lower engine residues important for maintenance.

Key Takeaways

• Diesel trucks should be your go-to for long distance routes.
• CNG participants fare better in lighter do’s and city operations with minimal power requirements.
• The primary criteria for making a CNG truck appeal to the buyer is to lower the maintenance cost.

Challenges and Limitations of CNG trucks

Limited Fueling Infrastructure

High CNG truck characteristics include among others, CNG use. And one of the disadvantages of CNG trucks is the impossibility of fuelling, at least in distance areas. The Government is working to improve the CNG coverage but in distance places where there isn’t coverage turning up for a long CNG truck usage may be inconvenient.

Higher Initial Purchase Cost

As noted above, CNG trucks generally have additional equipment fitted such as CNG fuel tanks and safety equipment, which increases the purchase price. But there are available subsidies that fleet owners will utilize to lessen the initial purchase of their asset.

Other Operational Challenges

There are infrastructural constraints to using CNG trucks because, using CNG maybe good for the environment yet these trucks come with too many limitations such as less power, heavy weight and frequent refuelling cycles. All these might discourage its use in long haul buffer type fleets.

Case Studies of Diesel and CNG Fleets in India

Real-World Examples of CNG Fleet Adoption

CNG trucks have already been embraced by a number of fleets in India, particularly in the Delhi and Mumbai metros where air pollution control is a major focus. For instance, diesel vehicles operated by some logistics companies have been successfully replaced by CNG powered vehicles, resulting in lower emissions as well as operational costs.

Real-World Diesel Fleet Operations

However, for long run, diesel trucks are still the machines of choice. Fleets are dependent on the power and the availability of the diesel infrastructure to get the job done.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Summary of Key Points

Diesel vs CNG trucks: CNG trucks have a good role in the reduced emissions and fuel cost incurred when used in city usage range, whereas diesel trucks have relatively low emissions when used in long haul routes because of the strong power output and fueling infrastructure during the routes.

Which Option Will Give You The Highest Fuel Efficiency?

Though in general diesel trucks are considered the better option, especially in long distances due to their fuel efficiency, it however however the CNG trucks can bring tremendous savings during non highway miles as well as being eco-friendly.

Based on existing operation, fleet owners should aim to achieve a perfect balance by adding used diesel vs CNG trucks to the fleet. The trend in India is moving towards the implementation of new technologies of both diesel and CNG fuels.