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KARNATAKA (Bengaluru / Bangalore) India
Automobiles in connection with LPG
Oct 31, 2008 09:23 AM 11267 Views

->What cars can use LPG?


LPG can be used within a modified internal combustion engine. Most cars and car-derived vans that operate on LPG are conversions designed to run in bi-fuel mode, the engine being able to operate on gas or petrol. Whereas older bi-fuel conversions often had poor performance(the engine being optimised for petrol operation), recent conversions use electronically controlled gas-injection systems. The advantage of bi-fuel operation is that vehicles are less reliant on a fully developed LPG refuelling infrastructure and are able to be used in areas where the gas is unavailable. However, bi-fuel cars do not achieve the full emission benefits offered by LPG because a compromise in engine tuning is required for the two fuels.


Used in conjunction with a spark-ignition engine, LPG is either added to the airflow or injected into the cylinder in gaseous or liquid form. The gas mixes readily with air, thus allowing a more complete combustion than is the case for conventional liquid fuels. In most respects, current bi-fuel and dedicated LPG vehicles have an engine performance similar to conventional cars. There are, however, several advantages of using LPG, which include an extended engine life due to the fuel?s clean, burn characteristics and reduced engine stress. Conventional(petrol) catalytic converters are used by most bi-fuel cars, whereas dedicated LPG vehicles use catalysts that are optimised for the gas, further reducing vehicle emissions.


The most significant difference between gas and conventional cars is the method of fuel storage. As LPG is a gas at room temperature, a pressurised tank is required. Fortunately LPG liquefies under moderate pressure(one reason for its popularity over other gaseous fuels); the gas/liquid mixture is usually stored in cylinders at just over 10 bar. For car conversions, LPG tanks are either cylindrical and located within the boot space or doughnut-shaped to fit into the recess normally occupied by the spare wheel. Being pressurised, these tanks are significantly heavier than conventional fuel tanks for the same range. Although they occupy a similar volume to petrol/diesel tanks, this can be a problem for bi-fuelled vehicles as two tanks have to be accommodated. The result is that the weight of the extra cylinder slightly increases the fuel consumption and marginally reduces the weight and size of luggage that can be carried.


Liquefied petroleum gas is a tried-and-tested green car fuel. There are currently over 4 million vehicles using LPG in Italy, Holland, the former Soviet Union, Japan, Australia, South Korea, the USA and Canada. In the UK, there are over one 100, 000 LPG vehicles in use. The majority of these are cars and light-duty vans, most which are bi-fuel.


->How do I refuel a LPG car?


With the car in position, a flexible hose is connected between the dispenser and the car and is locked into place creating a sealed system. The amount of LPG required is then pre-selected before the gas is automatically dispensed. Although it is advisable that LPG car owners are taken through this procedure at least once by an experienced person(LPG station owners are usually only too happy to oblige), it quickly becomes second nature and, after a few refills, takes the same amount of time as for conventional fuels. To many LPG car owners, it often seems strange that all fuels are not automatically dispensed using a pre-selector.


In the past the main barrier to the use of LPG in the UK has been the limited number of refuelling stations? fortunately, this is no longer the case. Although there were only around 200 LPG filling stations in 1999, the number has increased to around 1, 200 by 2006. The situation has approached the point where around 10% of all refuelling stations offer LPG.


->Are LPG cars better for the environment?


Compared to petrol, greenhouse gas emissions from LPG cars are reduced due to the gas' low carbon content - this more than balances the relatively high fuel consumption of LPG cars(litres per mile), which is around 30% more than for petrol. Taking carbon dioxide emissions into account, real world tests show around a 15% reduction of life cycle greenhouse gas emissions(per km) for bi-fuel LPG cars as compared to petrol operation? placing the level of greenhouse emissions between those from petrol and diesel.


Regulated emissions(per mile) are reduced for LPG cars as compared to conventional fuels. Even compared to petrol, which itself is low in NOx, the best quality LPG bi-fuel engines produce fewer NOx emissions and virtually eliminate emissions of particulates. LPG cars therefore also provide significantly lower regulated pollutants than diesel. Larger emission reductions are provided by mono-fuelled(dedicated gas) engines - however, bi-fuel vehicles are the most common LPG car type currently available in the UK.


->How much do LPG cars cost to own?


Some ownership costs for LPG cars are higher than for their petrol equivalents. This is principally due to their higher purchase price(if bought new) or to the cost of conversion of an existing car. Typically, for new car and car-derived vans, the additional purchase price/conversion cost is in the range of £1200-£2000(although some manufacturers have decided to absorb the extra cost). Other changes in ownership costs include vehicle excise duty('road tax')? LPG car owners could save up to £50 per year compared to petrol cars.


->Where can I buy a LPG car?


The availability of LPG cars has never really been an issue as the majority are essentially conversions of conventional petrol cars - these are either converted at the factory by the manufacturer or are retrofitted after being sold as a new car.


Details of car manufacturers and approved converters(OEMs) who supply LPG cars are available on the Energy Saving Trust's PowerShift Register. These include models from most of the major manufacturers including: Vauxhall's'dual-fuel' cars(Astra, Corsa, Omega, Vectra and


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