Just like some Nigerians are now powering their electricity generators with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), vehicles can also run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), according to The Bearing, a daily podcast by Daily Trust.
This followed the abrupt removal of subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
A bolt driver who spoke to the medium said with N3,000 CNG, he could journey for seven hours. According to him, the lengthy hours journey [using PMS] could costs about N27,000.
Some other drivers who spoke to the medium shared diverse views on their readiness to switch to the use of CNG for their cars.
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WikkiTimes had earlier reported how Nigerians could resort to using gas to power their generators.
A Gombe-based generator mechanic and expert, Abdukar Sulaiman of Habuda Technical Services, explained to WikkiTimes how gas can be used to power electricity generators.
According to him, converting a generator to function with gas involves changing the original fuel carburettor in the generator to a hybrid carburettor. The hybrid carburettor allows a generator to function on both fuel and gas.
He explained that because a car’s engine has been programmed to use PMS or diesel, one has to create a space for a CNG cylinder inside the car’s booth.
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A mechanic in Abuja, Wasiu Shehu told Daily Trust that the CNG, when used, does not have any side effects on the vehicle. He added that using CNG for vehicles is healthy.
“As a mechanic, all I can say is that the CNG is good,” he said.
The major challenge with the use of CNG in the country is the limited number of dispensing points, which are largely in Lagos State.
According to Engineer Olarenwaju Adisa, any four-cylinder or V-cylinder can use CNG. He added that the use of CNG does not reduce the productivity of a car.
On how to monitor the consumption of gas by a vehicle, Adisa revealed that there is a monitoring device installed to monitor the level of gas left in the tank, which is installed in the boot
Engineer Adisa said there is an automatic device installed in the car that converts the vehicle from the use of PMS to CNG usage.
In such a case, Adisa said both PMS and CNG can be used, and a tool ‘calibration’ helps in regulating the volume of gas flowing into the injector system.
On the cost of the conversation, Adisa estimated the price of conversion around N470,000 to N500,000. Adisa said it is costly because Nigeria does not produce the CNG kits that are used for the conversion.
He explained that LPG could also be used, but CNG is safer.
