Ashok Leyland Dost ‘Twin Fuel’: Seamless switch between CNG & Petrol
The ‘Twin Fuel’ variants of Ashok Leyland Dost and Dost+ XL will address the operators concerns on range anxiety and non-availability of CNG pump along their route.
Ashok Leyland has launched the dual-fuel variants of its popular mini trucks Dost and Dost+ XL in the domestic market. Equipped with advanced technology that allows seamless switching between Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and petrol, the ‘Twin Fuel’ variants are priced competitively, with ex-showroom prices starting at ₹ 8.20 Lakh (Dost) and ₹ 8.75 lakh for Dost+ XL.
The new variants will address the pressing concerns of CNG vehicle operators, including range anxiety and non-availability of CNG pump (or ‘No Stock’ scenario) along their route. These mini trucks come with an additional petrol tank of 5 litres capacity, which can be used for such emergencies. This can support the users with higher uptime and choice to travel longer distances without compromise.
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The ‘Twin Fuel’ Dost boasts a payload capacity of 1,218 kg, offering a CNG driving range of 400 km supported by a 120 litres gas tank. The dual-fuel Dost+ XL, on the other hand, offers 1,410 kg payload capacity, supported by a larger 148 litres gas tank to deliver a superior range of 500 km.
The CNG mini trucks are powered a 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder spark-ignited gas engine paired with a turbo-charger and an intercooler. A 5-speed manual, fully synchronized gearbox handles the power transmission duties.
On the whole, the new Ashok Leyland Dost ‘Twin Fuel’ variants will appeal to the urban and semi-urban logistics operators, last-mile delivery, and business owners. The dual-fuel variants will primarily take on the likes of Tata Intra V20 and Mahindra Veero ‘bi-fuel’ variants in the local market.
