Automobile experts have said vehicles using compressed natural gas (CNG) save 70 per cent in maintenance and running expenses compared to those running on petrol.

They made the assertion during separate interviews in Abuja.

Speaking of the benefits of converting cars from using petrol to CNG, the experts noted that CNG is environmentally friendly, improves engine performance, and extends its longevity beyond fuel efficiency.

Bayero Farah, the director-general of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), told NAN that using CNG cars will save 70 per cent on running expenses compared to cars that run on petrol.

He said there would be an extension of service duration, engine performance, and emission close to international standards while using CNG cars over those that use petrol.

According to him, CNG will have a stable price for a long period because it is not dependent on exchange rates and production challenges like the PMS and diesel.

The NITT boss, however, said that the disadvantage was just the initial cost of conversion, which is high at the moment.

Oseni Suleiman, the national president of the Amalgamated Union of Motor Mechanics and Technicians (AUOMMATON), stated that CNG cars guaranteed cheaper maintenance costs than petrol-powered cars. He said CNG burns more cleanly than petrol, reducing wear and tear on engine components, and its combustion produces significantly lower emissions than petrol and diesel.

Mr Suleiman added that CNG is safer than other fuels in the event of a spill. He underscored the need for more Nigerian artisans to be trained in converting petrol-using vehicles to CNG-running ones.

Mr Suleiman said AUOMMATON had initiated the process of achieving the training and asked the government for support.

Julius David, a car dealer in Abuja, said some of his patrons had been demanding CNG vehicles, noting that the buyers were getting to realise the greater benefit of using CNG cars.

Some CNG vehicle owners affirmed that the design was cost-effective and easy to maintain. Others, however, expressed concerns about the cost of converting their petrol cars to CNG, which they said was between N700,000 to N1 million.

(NAN)