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FUEL for THOUGHT
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Kochi is pioneering a new trend of LPG powered two-wheelers. JOHNY PAZHANILATH on this nifty invention.
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Pic. by Mahesh Harilal
THE HIKE in petrol prices no longer affects them. The sight of the `No Stock' boards in front of the fuel shops do not bug them, neither do their two-wheelers quench for that precious, golden-yellow liquid. They are the latest of Kochi's happy lot, who ride away the miles with pride and smile. While the prices of fuel prices touch a regular sky high making a huge hole in their pockets, these happy motorists are smiling away on their motorcycles and scooters now fitted with LPG cylinders.
There are more than 50 two-wheelers now plying in Kochi with these 1.7 kg LPG cylinders. And this option offers them an incredibly higher mileage for a very small amount. "I've been spending nearly Rs.950 every month for petrol. Now my fuel expenses has come down to Rs.300 a month ever since I converted my Kinetic Honda scooter into a gas-run one," reveals Rajalakshmy Girish, an employee of the Provident Fund office in the city. She spent Rs.3,850 to install an imported Italian gas kit a few months ago, gets a refill cylinder for Rs.50 and gets an average mileage of 130-140 kilometres. "Who can afford the spiralling petrol cost," asks Shaji N. Ummer, a Gulf-returned resident of Palarivattom. "LPG is very economical for two-wheelers. After seeing my gas-run scooter and its high mileage, many people have evinced interest in this two-wheeler gas kit."
According to Santhosh Thomas of City Gas Car Consultant, more than 40 vehicles in Kochi have been fitted with LPG gas kits. "People from Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode also come here to convert their bikes into gas," he says. Imported gas kits, manufactured by Hovel Auto Gas, Italy, are used in two-wheeler gas conversion by these auto gas consultants. While the original gas kits costs around Rs.3, 850, there are many duplicates kits available in the range of Rs. 1, 800-2, 400. However, experts feel that the two-wheeler gas kits used in Kochi are not approved. "It should have the approval of Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and the Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE). But gas kits used in two-wheelers here are not approved by these central agencies," says Prince Thomas, president of All India Federation of Automotive Gas Conversion Dealers' Association and owner of Vytilla-based Pioneer Gas Car Consultants.
While the new-generation vehicles offer a high mileage, it is the low-mileage vehicle category that opts for gas conversions, says a dealer. "A big chunk of the vehicles we get for conversion are either the Kinetic Hondas or Enfield Bullets. While the Kinetic Honda models have the facility to hide the gas kit inside an inbuilt cabin, the motor cycles carry it in side bags," the dealer adds. Interestingly, the two-wheeler gas kit refill pack has an alarming safety side too. The dealers often give 1.7 kg LPG gas cylinders and charge Rs.50 for a refill. They also provide an adaptor for the customer to refill it needed from domestic cooking gas, which is far more economical. "If you refill the cylinder from domestic gas, it costs only something below Rs.30 for a cylinder," says A. Jose, who runs a provision store at Cheranelloor. His motorcycle runs on gas. But experts in this field advice against this practice, which is very often encouraged by the dealers.
Though there are many two-wheeler owners who have opted for this option, there are many who consider this to be a rather unsafe option. "It's a risky ride," feels M. R. Rajashekaran, a sales executive, who uses a Kinetic Honda. "In four-wheelers, the gas cylinder is well protected, but in two-wheelers, it's exposed, which can be dangerous," he adds.
While the trend is slowly catching up in Kochi, what have the authorities concerned to say? "This has not come to our notice. It cannot be used without proper government notification, " informs Ernakulam Regional Transport Officer, T. N. Muralidharan. There are also doubts about the safety standards of these gas kits. However, the insurance companies have no hitch to provide insurance cover to these vehicles "If permitted by the RTO, these two-wheelers, that run on gas, are eligible for insurance cover. But in such cases, the RC book should have an endorsement in this regard. An additional premium should also be remitted," explains T. Babu Paul, Manager, National Insurance Company.
Amidst all this confusion and talk about the safety and propriety of using gas, many two-wheeler owners, hard hit by the spiralling fuel prices, are now opting for this new initiative.
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