CNG vs EV: Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG Bike vs Revolt RV400: Running Costs Compared

The new Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG bike promises to considerably reduce running costs as compared to conventional, petrol-only bikes. With its performance, and price (Rs 95,000 - Rs 1,10,000 (ex-showroom)), it forms a middle ground between petrol-only bikes and electric bikes. For this comparo, we’ll take the Revolt RV400 BRZ, which costs Rs 1,27,950 (ex-showroom, Mumbai).

Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG Bike Mileage And Running Costs

The Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG bike is powered by a 125cc air-cooled engine that makes 9.5PS and 9.7Nm, and is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. 

The Freedom 125 has two fuel tanks: a primary, 2kg CNG tank, and an auxiliary 2-litre petrol tank that can be used when the bike runs out of CNG. Bajaj claims the CNG mileage is 102km per kg. Average cost of CNG in Maharashtra is Rs 79.46 per kg, which results in CNG-only running cost of Rs 0.78 per kilometre. Considering your average monthly running is 1000km, it would cost you Rs 780 per month in fuel. 

Revolt RV400 BRZ Running Costs

The Revolt RV400 BRZ has a 3.24kWh lithium-ion battery that powers a 3kW motor. Revolt claims the battery can be charged from 0 to 100% in 4.5 hours.

The RV400 BRZ has a claimed range of about 150km in the Eco mode. The average cost of electricity is Rs 11.7 per unit in Maharashtra, and considering the Revolt’s charger consumes 4 units to charge the battery completely, that would result in a cost of about Rs 0.31 per kilometre. This means you would spend Rs 312 per month in charging the RV400, if your monthly running is 1000km. 

Bajaj Freedom 125 vs Revolt RV400 BRZ

On the face of it, that’s a saving of Rs 468 per month in running costs, if you opt for the electric bike over the CNG bike. However, there are a few more things to consider here. The Revolt RV400 BRZ costs Rs 17,590 more than the top variant of the Bajaj Freedom 125. While it takes 4.5 hours to fully charge the Revolt, CNG refuelling is not as quick as petrol either; most CNG stations have infamously long queues that result in a prolonged waiting time. However, with Revolt or any other electric bike, you can charge it while you are at home or in the office, and in the meanwhile, are free to go about your business. So it primarily comes down to whether you want to save money upfront by opting for the cheaper bike, or you want to save money gradually with lower running costs.