Fueling with CNG yields almost twice as much as gasoline and ethanol, says Abegás

A survey by the Brazilian Association of Pipeline Gas Distribution Companies (Abegás) shows that, currently, Natural Vehicle Gas (CNG) has yielded almost twice as much as gasoline and ethanol.

According to the survey carried out by the association, supplying R$ 100.00 with fuel, a vehicle has the capacity to run 306KM with CNG, 94% more than the 158 KM it would run on gasoline.

When compared to ethanol, this savings is even greater. With this same value, it is possible to run 134 KM with alcohol, that is, CNG yields up to 128% more. The survey was based on the latest price bulletin released by the National Petroleum Agency (ANP).

For the month of November, CNG broke the historical record in price, being sold at R$ 4.256 per cubic meter, 39% above the historical average (in real values) of R$ 3.06. Despite the growth, for Abegás’ Strategy and Market Director, Marcelo Mendonça, recurrent increases in the prices of other fuels have made consumers look for alternatives to balance their budget and, therefore, CNG has been an option.

“It yields much more and is much more economical than liquid fuels. A cubic meter of CNG can yield more than 13.2 kilometers, while with gasoline the yield is only 10.7 kilometers and with ethanol, only 7.5 kilometers.”, says the director.

When comparing the states, the Abegás survey shows that the state of Mato Grosso has the highest cost-benefit ratio. Supplying R$ 100 of CNG in the state allows it to run up to 413 KM. With gasoline, this value yields 158 KM, and with ethanol, it is possible to travel up to 138 KM.

Ceará, on the other hand, is the unit of the federation with the lowest cost-benefit ratio. The value of R$ 100 allows a car to run up to 270 KM if fueled with CNG. With gasoline, this route is 154 KM, and with ethanol, 131 KM.

The fact that CNG is more economical allows for a greater increase in the income of workers such as application drivers or those who work with delivery services. According to ABEGAS, with the improvement in the sanitary situation resulting from the advance of vaccination, the increase in the consumption of CNG reached 18.8% in the 3rd quarter of 2021, compared to the same period in 2020.

The association claims that the increase in demand for CNG has caused consumption in September to reach 6.3 million cubic meters/day – above even the average for the pre-pandemic period.

“This signals a trend. It shows that, even with activities not yet fully normalized, drivers are realizing that the economy makes all the difference in the budget. Today, on the national average, according to our calculations, based on the ANP’s most recent price list, with R$100 it is possible to travel 306 kilometers when fueled with CNG, while with gasoline the distance covered is 158 kilometers and with ethanol , only 134 kilometers.”, explains Marcelo Mendonça.