Which vehicles are suitable for LPG conversions
- In general all petrol fueled vehicles can be adapted to run on LPG. There are a few exceptions which are mainly some very modern vehicles which have direct petrol injection ie DGI engines. All vehicles retain their petrol system so that there is a choice of which fuel to use.
What is involved in having a vehicle converted to LPG.
- The first consideration is fuel storage. A special LPG storage vessel must be fitted to the vehicle. These tanks are extremely strong and safe and can be fitted in place of the spare wheel or as a cylindrical tank in the boot. Loosing a bit of space is the only disadvantage of have an LPG vehicle. An additional LPG filler is also fitted
Under the bonnet the fuel control system and associated electronics are fitted. On a modern car this is usually a Sequential Vapour Injection System. On older vehicles the traditional ring mixer system is fitted although SVI also can be fitted. Apart from physically fitting the components various connections also have to be made: These are into the water pipes and petrol injectors .
With a government grant of $2000 for secondhand vehicles available there is no better time to convert your car to autogas.
What exactly is LPG and where does it come from?
40% of LPG comes from the refining of crude oil and 60% straight from field production. At atmospheric pressure it is a vapour, under modest pressure it becomes liquid.
Most of my fleet is diesel powered?
This is not uncommon, so make the switch when your vehicles come up for replacement. Let us carry out a cost saving analysis now so you can see the benefits of changing your fleet to run on Autogas.
What is going to happen to the price of Autogas in the future?
The cost of Autogas currently stands at around 60c per litre. Thanks to its environmental benefits, LPG has found favour with the government. As a result, the price of Autogas at the pumps will continue to be around half that of petrol and diesel for the foreseeable future.
With care for the environment becoming a higher day-to-day priority, schemes are also being put in place which see taxation, insurance and parking incentivised towards LPG vehicles very soon.
What about the cost?
Autogas retails at around half the price per litre of unleaded petrol and diesel. In practice this means that an Autogas vehicle is about 40% cheaper to run than a conventional fuelled equivalent, so depending on your mileage, the payback period of the Autogas conversion (currently around $3000) could be less than 2 years.
What happens if an Autogas vehicle is involved in an accident?
All LPG tanks are rigorously tested and all are considerably stronger than conventional fuel tanks. Australia has stringent safety standards for Autogas vehicles and by selecting a reputable equipment manufacturer and/or converter approved by the ALPGA you are assured peace of mind.
How much cleaner is Autogas than petrol?
Carbon dioxide is widely regarded as a main contributor to the greenhouse effect, which is making our planet warmer. Autogas reduces CO2 emissions from vehicles previously powered by petrol by 15%. Autogas also emits 97% less Benzene than unleaded petrol.
How much cleaner is Autogas than diesel?
The black smoke that we see coming from diesel vehicles cause over 20,000 premature deaths a year. By replacing a diesel engine with an Autogas equivalent, over 90% less of this particulate matter would be emitted.
If I convert my vehicles to Autogas, can I still drive on petrol?
Yes, and with duel fuel you'll almost double your range. The petrol tank still remains in the car and the driver can switch from gas to petrol, or vice-versa.
Will converting affect the performance?
There is very little difference in performance - however, with a liquid injection system, performance can be increased by 5%. Some drivers find increased drivability and for anyone used to driving on diesel, there's obviously a significant reduction in noise.
What about the vehicle warranty?
All duel fuel vehicles carry full manufacturer's warranty. Most retrofit conversion specialists will cover the LPG systems; however this needs to be checked.
How much space does the tank take up?
Most tanks take up less space than a spare wheel.
|
