Claim
A Nigerian X user, @emmaikumeh recently shared a photo of exploded Audi CNG and advised Nigerians.
Verdict
This claim is MISLEADING.
Checks showed that the incident happened in Germany in 2019.
Full Text
Due to the hardship and rising cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, many drivers in Nigeria are turning to compressed natural gas (CNG) as a more affordable and environmentally friendly option.
The cost of fuel has become a significant concern for motorists, coupled with the economic issues of inflation, which has tripled the prices of goods and commodities
Advising Nigerians against this move, an X user, @emmaikumeh, on October 10, advised that it may be dangerous to use CNG vehicles.
The X user posted a photo of an exploded vehicle and wrote, “This is CNG Audi. Exploded while filling up.
“Enough said.
Over 764k persons have viewed the posts. While more than 2k persons have reposted it as of Friday morning.
In Thread, Onoja Precious and Egwu Daniel shared this same image and warned Nigerians to be careful when entering a car that uses CNG instead of fuel.
Knowing the panic these posts may have caused among Nigerians, FACTWATCH decided to run a fact check on it.
Verification
The photo was subjected to a Google Image reverse search, and it was discovered that the incident occurred in Germany in 2019.
FACTWATCH found a report by the German news organization LOG, which stated that the vehicle exploded and was previously damaged.
The incident occurred in Baden Germany.
In the report, the 34-year-old driver in the vehicle during the filling process was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, and some vehicles in the vicinity were also damaged.
It is also stated that the German Gas Engineering Association conducted an on-site inspection after the incident, which was quickly brought under control by the fire department, and submitted a report to the prosecutor’s office for a security investigation.
According to information from FOCUS Online, the car was already damaged before the explosion. An unprofessional repair could be the cause of the accident.
Please note that these news reports were translated from German to English language using Google Translator
How Safe Are CNG Vehicles?
A reputable Car insurance company, Tata AIG, in an analysis, stated that CNG is highly combustible. It has a narrow range of flammability that varies from 5-15%. Due to its low flammability property, it lowers the chances of catching fire.
But Tata AIG said that converting a petrol car into a CNG car is possible by installing a CNG Fuel kit in it. It is best if that CNG fuel Kit is entirely authentic and is installed by an authentic mechanic or dealer.
Conclusion
The X user recirculated this image to scare Nigerians. The incident happened in 2019 in Germany.
