LPG stands for Liquefied Petroleum Gas, and is a by-product of oil production. It is a mixture of propane and butane.
Most petrol engines can be converted to run on LPG. A list of vehicles can obtained by visiting the Liquid Petroleum Gas Association (LPGA) website http://www.lpga.co.uk/
Conversions costs start at £1000, depending on the vehicle that is being converted, and the kit that is used.
LPG is currently available at around 1000 refuelling points in the UK, and new distributors are appearing all the time. For a full list, visit the Powershift website.
The biggest advantage is the cost!! At the moment, LPG is available at around 37 pence a litre. It is also more environmentally friendly, as it produces less carbon emissions
Yes! Dual-fuel vehicles have the capability of running on petrol or gas at the flick of a switch, giving greater choice in the fuel to be used.
LPG is stored in a special tank which can be fitted either in the spare wheel well or in the boot of the vehicle. Tanks can, in some cases, be fitted underneath the vehicle.
The LPG tanks are extremely strong and are rigorously tested, so are safer than a conventional petrol tank. Also, the gas cannot leak from the tank when the vehicle is not running due to a solenoid valve system. Safety features on approved LPG converted vehicles include:
An electronic solenoid valve which shuts off the supply when the ignition is switched off, or the engine stalls.
Solenoid valves which shut off gas supply if a fuel pipe is damaged.
An electrical-operated switch cuts off the fuel when the engine is not running. In case of a fire the tank is designed to withstand enormous pressure and very high temperatures.
And with over 4 million vehicles worldwide running on LPG it has an exemplary safety record.
Most modern LPG systems use what is known as a Doughnut tank. This replaces the spare wheel and instead you are provided with a ‘Get you Home’ canister of tyre sealant. You can of course keep the spare tyre in the boot but this does take up some space.
Your car will be converted to run as a duel-fuel vehicle (petrol & LPG). At a flick of a switch on the dashboard, you can change from the LPG tank to the petrol tank – allowing you to reach a LPG refuelling point.
Yes, you can. Demand for LPG – powered vehicles is such that increasing numbers of vehicle manufactures, including Citroen, Ford, Vauxhall, Nissan and Volvo, are producing dual-fuel variations of existing cars.