Bajaj launches world’s first gas motorcycle; get to know | Estadão Mobility | Market, MotoMotor

Bajaj presented, yesterday 5/7, the world’s first gas motorcycle, in India. Named Freedom 125, the model has a dual-fuel engine, that is, it runs on Compressed Natural Gas or gasoline. According to the Indian giant, this volume of gas guarantees autonomy to travel 200 kilometers. The Bajaj Freedom 125 is only for sale in the Indian market, with prices starting at 95 thousand rupees, the equivalent of R$6.9 thousand.

According to Bajaj, the motorcycle powered by Compressed Natural Gas It will be a game changer in India’s motorcycle market, currently the largest in the world. The country has also been looking for alternatives to reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse gases. After all, of the 30 most polluted cities in the world in 2019, 21 of them were in India.

In addition to polluting less, Bajaj’s CNG motorcycle provides motorcyclists with 50% savings compared to gasoline, according to the brand. However, the Freedom 125 still has a 2-liter fuel tank to offer convenience to owners.

Read too: Bajaj opens factory in Brazil and confirms launch of 3 new motorcycles

If the CNG runs out, the motorcyclist can switch to the gas tank, as drivers of cars that use CNG do in Brazil. Because it is quite economical, the Freedom 125 can run an additional 130 km on gasoline, according to the company. Thus, the combined autonomy (gasoline + CNG) of the Freedom 125 reaches 320 km – the equivalent of models powered only by petroleum-derived fuel.

How is the gas powered Bajaj motorcycle?

Proposed to be an affordable and economical motorcycle, the Bajaj Freedom uses a 125cc, four-stroke, air-cooled engine. The single-cylinder produces 9.5 hp of power at 8,000 rpm and 0.98 m.kgf of torque at 5,000 rpm. Enough numbers to take the gas motorcycle to around 90 km/h.

CNG cylinder under the seat

Digital panel

2 liter gasoline tank

Urban style

LED Headlight
Photo Gallery: Bajaj Freedom 125

Despite its utilitarian proposal, Bajaj’s gas motorcycle has LED headlights, a digital dashboard and even smartphone connectivity. Its design is simple, with a long seat, and an urban motorcycle look.

In terms of cycling, it uses 17-inch wheels, with disc brakes, at the front, and 16-inch wheels, with drum brakes, at the rear. The big news is the lattice frame, which houses and protects the gas cylinder inside. The cylinder, with a capacity of 2 kg of gas and 12.5 liters of volume, is located under the seat.

One of the biggest challenges in developing gas motorcycles is safety. There have already been prototypes and other attempts to use CNG in motorcycles, but Bajaj is the first major manufacturer to produce a motorcycle powered by this type of fuel on a large scale.

According to the company, the lattice frame protects the cylinder even in collisions and accidents. Before being launched, the gas motorcycle underwent several impact tests to ensure that the cylinder would not explode.

Will Bajaj bring gas motorcycles to Brazil?

The Bajaj Freedom 125 can now be ordered in India. The model will have three versions, which differ in terms of brakes and suspensions. Prices range from 95 thousand rupees (R$6.9 thousand) to 110 thousand Indian rupees (R$7.3 thousand).

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A post shared by WorldsFirstCNGBike (@worldsfirstcngbike)

Intended for the Indian market, the Freedom 125 is not expected to come to Brazil, at least for now. The information was confirmed by the brand’s general director in the country in a recent interview with MotoMotor. According to Waldyr Ferreira, the gas motorcycle is not a priority for Bajaj Brasil at the moment. The Indian giant has just opened a factory in Manaus (AM), where it will only produce gasoline models.

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https://mobilidade.estadao.com.br/inovacao/bajaj-freedom-125-primeira-moto-a-gas-do-mundo/
Author: Arthur Caldeira