The Bajaj Freedom 125, which has sold over 40,000 units, and the TVS Jupiter CNG concept, which is getting its first public showing at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo, make a pitch for eco- and wallet-friendly motoring and also display their companies’ and India's strengths in innovation and world-class R&D capabilities.
19 Jan 2025 | 10161 Views | By Ajit Dalvi
Bharat Mobility Global Expo’s Auto Expo 2025, which has been dominated by electric vehicles on two and four wheels, also has the world’s first CNG-powered two-wheelers – both from Indian manufacturers – vying for showgoers’ attention. Making a case for eco-friendly as well as wallet-friendly mobility are the Bajaj ...
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Bharat Mobility Global Expo’s Auto Expo 2025, which has been dominated by electric vehicles on two and four wheels, also has the world’s first CNG-powered two-wheelers – both from Indian manufacturers – vying for showgoers’ attention. Making a case for eco-friendly as well as wallet-friendly mobility are the Bajaj Freedom 125 motorcycle, which went on sale in the domestic market in July 2024, and the TVS Jupiter CNG scooter, which is still a concept and is having its first public showing.
Bajaj Auto, located in Hall 3 at New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan, has used the platform of the Auto Expo 2025 to showcase the Freedom 125, the world’s first CNG motorcycle, which is testament to the company’s and India’s innovation, world-class research and development capabilities, and cutting-edge manufacturing ability.
Priced at Rs 89,997 (ex-showroom Delhi), the Bajaj Freedom 125 is powered by a new, air-cooled 125cc, single-cylinder motor which develops 9.5 hp and 9.7 Nm of torque, mated to a five-speed gearbox. Bajaj Auto claims the bike has a top speed of 90.5kph while running on CNG and, when switched to petrol power, slightly higher at 93.4kph.
Bajaj Auto claims the Freedom 125 lowers operating costs by up to 50% when compared to similar ICE motorcycles, which translates into a very wallet-friendly Rs 1 per kilometre. The CNG tank provides a range of over 200 kilometres on just 2kg of CNG. Additionally, the bike’s 2-litre petrol tank acts as a range extender, offering over 130km of range in the event of the CNG tank emptying out.
This dual-fuel capability gives the rider a combined range of 330km. The Freedom 125, as per Autocar India tests, delivered mileage of 94km/kg in the city and 126km/kg on the highway. Meanwhile, the fuel efficiency when running on petrol was predictably a lot lower – 53.4kpl in the city and 62.37kpl on the highway. On the emissions front, compared to petrol-engined bikes, the Freedom 125 emits 26.7% less CO2, 85% lower NMHC’s (non-methane hydrocarbons) and 43% less NOx (nitrogen oxide).
High on safety, the Freedom 125 has successfully passed 11 rigorous safety tests, including impact tests, as well as a truck-run-over test. Earlier this year, the Bajaj Freedom 125 bagged the Autocar Bike of the Year 2025 award, impressing the jury with its innovation, value, usability and cost-effectiveness.
TVS JUPITER CNG CONCEPT DEBUTS AT AUTO EXPO 2025
In July 2024, Autocar Professional had broken the news of TVS Motor Co working on a CNG avatar of the Jupiter scooter, its best-selling product which has clocked over 7 million sales in India since its launch in September 2013.
Seven months down the line, the Chennai-based two-wheeler major took the covers off the Jupiter CNG, the world’s first compressed natural gas-powered scooter at the Auto Expo 2025. According to the company, riders can instantly switch between CNG and petrol, offering flexibility and cost efficiency at less than Rs 1 per kilometre.
Visually, other than the CNG sticker it sports, the TVS Jupiter CNG looks the same as its petrol Jupiter 125cc sibing. What lies beneath the exterior is where the major difference is. The CNG cylinder, which can hold 1.4kg (9.5 litres) of the gas is located under the seat. This means there is no storage space available – one of the Jupiter 125’s trump cards (its 33-litre boot, the largest in the ICE scooter market) has not been transferred over here.
The Jupiter CNG’s 124.8cc, single-cylinder engine is rated for 7.2hp at 6000rpm and 9.4 Nm of torque at 5500rpm, a tad lower than the petrol-only Jupiter 125, which develops 8.1hp and 10.5Nm. TVS claims the Jupiter CNG has a top speed of 80.5kph and fuel efficiency of 84km/kg with a total range figure (petrol + CNG) of 226 kilometres.
Feature-wise, the Jupiter CNG is identical to the Jupiter 125 and has a digi-analogue display, a small cubby on the front apron with a USB charger and start/stop technology.
The petrol Jupiter 125 is priced between Rs 79,540 and Rs 90,721 (ex-showroom, Delhi). When TVS launches the production-ready Jupiter CNG, expect it to be priced slightly higher. While the Jupiter CNG is more or less production-ready, the company is still evaluating market demand and will launch the eco-friendly scooter when it believes the time is right. Till then, the Bajaj Freedom 125, which has sold over 40,000 units since launch, has the freedom to be the sole CNG-powered two-wheeler on the planet.
(Reportage on the TVS Jupiter CNG by Dinshaw Magol, Autocar India)
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