Dealing with petrol price hikes is a challenge for everyone, impacting transport costs and power generation expenses. Gig drivers face these economic challenges daily.
Recently, petrol prices in South Africa rose significantly due to global oil price increases and currency devaluation. Gig drivers in South Africa now pay R21.59 ($1.14) per litre, with further increases expected.
An article proposed the adoption of liquefied petroleum gas (autogas) vehicles as a cost-saving measure for gig drivers in South Africa. Switching to autogas could lead to significant fuel cost savings, although the initial conversion cost remains a hurdle.
A similar situation is observed in Nigeria, where petrol prices have skyrocketed, prompting gig drivers to consider compressed natural gas (CNG) as an alternative. Converting a petrol vehicle to CNG comes with costs ranging from ₦750,000 ($486) to ₦2.5 million ($1,620).
Comparing fuel prices, CNG at ₦230 ($0.15) per litre offers significant savings over petrol. A gig driver covering 20,000 km annually with a Toyota Corolla could save substantially on refueling costs by using CNG.
Despite the cost benefits, questions remain about the safety of retrofitted CNG engines, highlighting the need for broader adoption to assess their reliability.