TVS Jupiter CNG First Ride: 100km Range for ₹100?

The petrol pump meter is ticking up faster than our salaries. If you commute 40-50 km a day in a city like Bangalore, Delhi, or Mumbai, you are probably spending ₹3,000+ a month just on fuel.

Electric scooters are an option, but range anxiety is real. What if you forget to charge it? What if you live in an apartment with no charging point?

Enter the 2026 TVS Jupiter CNG. After Bajaj shook the market with the Freedom 125, TVS has answered with India’s first CNG scooter. It promises the running cost of an EV with the convenience of a petrol engine.

But is it actually practical, or is it just a science experiment on wheels? I took it for a spin to find out.

The “Magic” Switch: Petrol to CNG

The most anxious part of buying a bi-fuel vehicle is the switch. Will it jerk? Will the engine die?

TVS has nailed this. There is a simple toggle switch on the right handlebar (where the headlight switch used to be).

• The Experience: I started the scooter in Petrol mode (recommended for cold starts). After riding for 500 meters, I flipped the switch to ‘CNG’.
• The Result: Nothing happened. And that’s a good thing. There was no jerk, no cough, no lag. The green ‘CNG’ light on the dashboard turned on, and I kept riding. It is seamless.

Boot Space: The Elephant in the Room

Let’s address the biggest compromise immediately.

In the standard Jupiter 125, you can fit two helmets under the seat. In the Jupiter CNG, you can barely fit a raincoat.

• Where is the tank? The 2-liter petrol tank has been moved to the floorboard area, and the 1.4 kg CNG cylinder sits snugly under the seat.
• The Reality: If you are used to throwing your helmet, groceries, and gym bag under the seat, you will struggle. You will need to install an aftermarket top box or carry a backpack. For a “family scooter,” this is a significant downgrade in practicality.

Performance: Does it Lag?

CNG engines are historically known to be lazy. The Jupiter CNG runs on a modified 125cc engine producing about 7.1 PS (slightly lower than the petrol version’s 8 PS).

• City Flats: Up to 50 kmph, you won’t feel a difference. It pulls cleanly from traffic lights.
• The Flyover Test: I took it up a steep mall ramp with a pillion (combined weight ~160kg). In CNG mode, I did feel a slight drop in urgency. You have to twist the throttle a bit harder than usual. However, it didn’t stall or struggle; it just took a second longer to climb.
• Top Speed: It comfortably hits 75-80 kmph, which is more than enough for city limits.

Real World Mileage & Cost Analysis

This is why you are buying this scooter. TVS claims extremely high efficiency, but here is what I saw on the dashboard and at the pump.

• CNG Mileage: ~85 km per kg.
• Petrol Mileage: ~50 km per liter.
• Total Range: With a full CNG tank (1.4kg) and full petrol tank (2L), you can realistically cover ~200-220 km.

Monthly Savings Calculator (Estimated)

Parameter	Standard Petrol Scooter	TVS Jupiter CNG
Daily Commute	40 km	40 km
Mileage	45 kmpl	85 km/kg
Fuel Price (Avg)	₹102 / Liter	₹86 / kg
Fuel Needed (Monthly)	~26 Liters	~14 kg
Monthly Cost	₹2,652	₹1,204
Annual Savings	—	₹17,376

Note: You save roughly ₹17,000 a year. That effectively pays for your insurance and maintenance!

Pros & Cons Summary

Pros (The Good Stuff)	Cons (The Dealbreakers)
✅ Incredible Savings: Running cost is almost equal to an EV (~₹1/km).	❌ Zero Boot Space: No place for a helmet; the cylinder takes it all.
✅ No Range Anxiety: Run out of CNG? Just switch to petrol and keep going.	❌ Queue Times: CNG lines at pumps are notoriously long compared to petrol.
✅ Seamless Tech: The switch between fuels is undetectable while riding.	❌ Frequent Refills: A 1.4kg tank means you visit the pump every 100-110 km.
✅ Familiar Feel: Handles and rides exactly like a normal Jupiter.	❌ Power Drop: Slight sluggishness when riding double-seat on steep inclines.

Verdict: The King of Savings?

The TVS Jupiter CNG is a brilliant piece of engineering, but it isn’t for everyone.

• Buy it if: You are a delivery partner, a student on a tight budget, or a daily office commuter who just wants to save money and hates the charging time of EVs.
• Skip it if: You need under-seat storage for your helmet or if you live in an area with very few CNG stations (waiting in line for 20 minutes every 3 days gets annoying fast).

It solves the “Petrol vs. Electric” debate by offering a middle ground. It’s not fast, and it has no storage, but when you look at your bank balance at the end of the month, you won’t care.