Eco-friendly CNG buses are gradually overshadowing diesel fuel-based buses. It started in Europe and now almost every country is emphasizing to load the roads with CNG buses with the obvious reason to reduce pollution. Began in 1993 in India with mixed reactions, but now gradually all metropolitan and big cities have totally gone eco-friendly by replacing other types of buses with CNG buses.
Let’s have a brief look at the best CNG bus options available in India today:
Post Delhi, cities on the outskirts of the national capital too have made deliberate attempts to have only CNG buses on their roads. Cities like Agra, Lucknow, etc now have only CNG buses on their roads. CNG buses are now an integral part and need of our lives considering the present environmental conditions.
- Tata LP 407 CNG
Tata 407, the most admired brand in Indian Commercial Vehicle history, is offered as a bus also, in both diesels as well as CNG fuel options. With a modest 85 HP of power output, Tata LP 407 CNG bus is ideal for school, staff and contract carriage applications. With 2×2 seating layout, it stores a seating capacity of 24 occupants in staff and 3×2 layout offers 30 student seating. This bus is also designed with a view to providing safety, security, and comfort to the students and comes with all important features like air brakes, power steerings, etc.
It features- hatrack for luggage, anti-roll bar, sliding window, anti-skid vinyl flooring, emergency exit at the end, fire extinguisher, safe night driving facilitating two headlamps, etc. make it ideal for the safety of passengers.
- Tata LP 909 CNG
Tata LP 909 bus is a popular as well as a credible name that has proven itself over the years. It is coupled with specialized features, making it perfect for school and staff applications. This Tata bus with decent power of 85 bhp offers ultimate comfort and safety. Features include childcare seats, comfy upholstery and safety features like a first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, anti-skid flooring, etc. Its other features like seats with bottle holder space, door alarm system, lowered footstep height for entry and exit, window with padding and guardrails, racks for keeping school bags, tooth guard, etc prove its suitability for the students’ use.
- Eicher 10.90L CNG
Benchmarked against Tata LP 909 CNG, Eicher’s 10.90L CNG is one of the leading buses used for the commute of students. It offers a moderate 83 HP of power, suitable for non-AC school and staff applications. It is offered both as a chassis as well as fully built-up bus options with 2 different brands of Starline and Skyline. However, it is yet to make a significant mark in staff and contract carriage. It is available with a choice of seating capacity of 40+D in 2×2 layout and 51+ D in 3×2 school configuration.
- Ashok Leyland Lynx Strong CNG
It has a crown for widest CNG bus in the town in the ICV bus category. Ashok Leyland Lynx Strong offers a wider track and 2550 mm wide body, enough to offer a 3×2 seating layout for staff/stage carriage applications. It would not be wrong to call it a big bus with the economics of the small one. In fact, the bus offers a seating capacity of 57 seats in the school segment in the 3×3 layout. A powerful 114 HP engine is capable enough to take all kinds of gradients and AC loads.
- Tata LP 913 CNG
Meant for exclusive high power AC applications, LP 913 CNG gets powered by a 5.7 Litre 6 cylinder engine with skip fire technology. It generates a torque of 405 Nm and power of 130 HP. With a 2200 mm width of the built up bus, it is ideal for 2×2 staff and school applications. It offers a maximum seating capacity of 36+D in staff and 40+D in the school segment. Its features include air brakes, power steering, better internal height, and armrest facility on each seat, making it a highly comfortable bus with long life and good resale value in the market. The bus has earned its respect for superior mileage and reliability despite a bigger unique 6 cylinder engine in the segment.
- Ashok Leyland Lynx Smart CNG
The narrower sibling of Lynx Strong, Ashok Leyland Lynx Smart offers the usual 2200 mm width competing in the category of Tata LP 909 CNG, Tata LP 913 CNG, and Eicher 10.90L CNG. Offered in multiple wheelbase options and in chassis as well as built-up bus, this bus is suitable for all kinds of school and staff applications. It is built with the comprehensive safety and security measures like strategic emergency exits, anti-lock braking system, anti-skid flooring, fire extinguishers, speed limiting features, waterproofed electrical circuits, and roll-over protection. It not only caters ultimate safety to the passengers but ensures great driving experience through its double UJ steering system, smaller turning radius and calls for least steering endeavor. Its exclusive pendant type accelerator confirms minimal fatigue to the driver.
- SML S7 CNG
A very popular model in the value segment, SML S7 range of buses come with a new front fascia and 2350 mm wide body, ideal for 3×2 layout in schools. With a wheelbase of 5100 mm, this bus has made its mark in the school segment in a majority of CNG markets and can seat even 3 high school kids comfortably on each seat in 3×2, unlike the tight seats in 2200 mm wide buses.
Above are some of the renowned and extensively used buses in NCR region. If you are willing to buy a bus for business expansion or start-up, go on to buy as per your purpose and features of the buses.
- Ashok Leyland 5/45
A big bus of the MCV category, this 11m bus is ideal for contract carriage. However, it is to be noted that a large number of staff contractors use if for 2×2 staff application. One may notice this platform in large numbers in cluster application also, running in Delhi for the past few years. Powered by a modest 125 HP H-Series engine, this Ashok Leyland CNG bus platform comes with optional rear air suspension for better ride comfort. Buyers can purchase a bare chassis and get the body fabricated from nearby bus bodybuilders.
- Tata LPO 1613 CNG
Tata LPO 1613 is a large 11-meter long bus platform, competing against Ashok Leyland’s 5/45, with the added advantage that it offers a standard rear pneumatic suspension. It is also employed for staff transportation by corporate houses. Widely seen on Delhi roads in cluster application, this Tata CNG bus has definitely earned a name for itself as far as mileage is concerned. This bus with decent performance level is equipped with a 6 cylinder engine churning out 130 HP of max power and torque of 405 Nm.
- Eicher Pro 3009L CNG
With comfort as its core features, Eicher Pro 3009L CNG is a bus platform ideal for 3×2 seating configuration for schools and 2×2 for staff application. Recently introduced, the length and width are sufficient enough to make 62 seater school bus and up to 44 seater staff bus. With a high 147 HP of power delivery, this Eicher CNG bus has been introduced especially for AC application and higher seating capacity. The higher width offers better shoulder space, hence the passenger comfort. It marks the presence of Eicher buses in a segment dominated by Tata 913 and Ashok Leyland Lynx.
Eicher Pro 3008H CNG
This AC bus is considered apt for tourist buses, school, and staff application. This Eicher CNG bus platform is ideal for various seating configurations with the maximum capacity of 52+D (3×2) in schools, 36+D (2×2) in staff and 32+ D (2×2) push back seats. This is a wide AC bus with wider track providing additional shoulder space to the passenger. It is united with the tubeless tyre, parabolic suspension, and high strength domex chassis in addition to the full air S-cam brakes for efficient braking
This bus is considered best on uneven tracks due to rear pneumatic suspension. The dimensions of this large size bus are 5545 mm of long wheelbase, 11120 mm length. It comes with ABS and air brakes.