-Are alternative fuels proven technology?

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The origin of LPG is coming from 1911 the American chemist, Walter Snelling, demonstrated that the volatilization was caused by the propane and butane present in it.  That is why he developed a way to separate the gases from the gasoline. Through this process, these gases could liquefy at reasonable pressures and evaporated again when the pressure reduced. From this discovery arose Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), a fuel with the consistency of a liquid and the profits of a gas.

LPG continues to rise while currently there are more than 27 millions cars operating in gas.

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Natural gas vehicles started becoming popular in regions or countries where natural gas is abundant . The use of natural gas(CNG) began in the Po River Valley of Italy in the 1930s. 

CNG is one of the cleanest burning fuels available and there are more than 23 million cars running on natural gas around the world.

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-Why to convert my vehicle to LPG or CNG?

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• Cheaper than petrol and diesel

• Reduced CO2 emissions

• Quieter than diesel engines

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-How long does it take to convert my vehicle?

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Converting your car is easy and fast. Installation can be completed within a day.

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-Is it safe to convert your vehicles?

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Autogas fuels are widely used, powering million vehicles worldwide. Apart from its environmental and economic benefits, Autogas fuels has also been shown to be very safe even compared to petrol and diesel.

The reason is that autogas tanks are designed according to very strict requirements laid down in specific regulations in which equipment, material properties, fabrication processes of the tank shell itself and testing procedures are defined. 

In addition to that, 

Autogas tanks are designed to withstand even the most extreme conditions. 

The tanks are designed with a percentage of unused volume to allow for any expansion of the fuel in hot conditions. 

There is also a pressure relief valve that ensures that the internal tank pressure stays within safe tolerances, even when the tank may be exposed to an abnormal amount of heat.

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-What is 12L and how you can save money?

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Companies can claim savings for an individual project or for a combination of projects. The improvement of energy use across all energy sources potentially qualifies for a tax allowance.

More details...

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-Can I still switch to the initial fuel of my vehicle?

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On any bi-fuel vehicle, drive can switch to the initial fuel, either petrol or diesel, just by pressing a button, even while driving without having to switch off the engine.

That is an additional advantage of running on bi-fuel, increasing the autonomy of the vehicle, having the opportunity to run two fuels.

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-Will LPG or CNG harm the engine?

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LPG is good for cars. LPG does not damage engines. LPG may actually prolong engine life and reduce maintenance.

In summary of LPG vs petrol engine life, is LPG good for cars and does LPG damage engines:

• LPG prevents pre-ignition (knocking) in an engine, as it is over 100 octane

• Manufacturers offer dual-fuel models with the same warranties

• LPG changes the fuel storage and intake systems of the engine. These are the only major differences

• LPG conversions to engines do not affect factory warranties

• LPG doesn't damage engine parts

• LPG vs petrol is cleaner burning than petrol or diesel in an engine

• LPG may actually prolong engine life

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Also, CNG serves to extend life of lubricating oil as CNG will not contaminate or dilute crankcase oil. Fouling of plugs is eliminated and plug life is enhanced as CNG does not contain any lead. CNG enters the engine as gas while petrol comes in as spray or mist which washes down the lubricating oil from the piston ring area to raise the rate of engine depreciation. This reduces maintenance costs and engine life goes up.

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-Is it difficult to fill and autogas-powered vehicle?

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Not at all. If you can fill a car with gasoline, you can fill an autogas-powered vehicle. It’s essentially the same process.

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-What will happen, if my vehicle is still within the warranty period?

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There are many manufacturers, for which the warranty period won't be affected by converting your car to LPG/CNG. Also, there is the option to proceed to third party warranty, which depends on the model and the manufactures of the vehicle.

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-Is the insurance affected by the conversion?

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If the conversion kit has all the necessary certificates, you will only need COC (certificate of compliance) and a sticker indicating the fuel you are using on the back side of the vehicle.

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-Does using autogas require special vehicles?

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To use autogas as your fleet’s alternative fuel, you don’t need to buy new vehicles. Yes, some fleet customers choose to buy new autogas vehicles, but many fleet customers choose to convert their existing fleet vehicles from gasoline to autogas. It is also possible to utilize a bi-fuel system, where you have the option to operate your vehicle on either gasoline or autogas.

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-Can direct injection vehicles(DI) be converted ?

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Many drivers wonder if LPG can be installed in a car with direct fuel injection. In the past, it was not possible. Even ten years ago, in the cars with engines equipped with direct injection, LPG installations were not done. On the one hand, there was no demand for services of this type, on the other hand direct injection set quite specific requirements in relation to the gas installation. Currently the situation looks completely different. Injectors have been adapted to the specifics of the gas installation operation.

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-Where can I refill my vehicle?

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There are plenty of LPG and CNG stations already in South Africa. Also, for big fleets an inhouse depot is quite easy to be installed.

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-What is the difference between LPG and CNG?

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LPG has a higher calorific value, or energy content, so less gas is required to produce the same amount of heat. The second key difference is in the oxygen to gas ratio required for proper combustion. LPG requires an oxygen to gas ratio of approximately 25 to 1. Natural gas requires a ratio of around 10 to 1.

• LPG is propane and butane vs natural gas which is methane

• LPG vs natural gas are different chemicals with different formulae: LPG: Propane is C3H8 & Butane is C4H10 whilst Natural Gas – Methane is CH4

• LPG is heavier than air vs natural gas which is lighter than air

• LPG has a higher energy content at 93.2MJ/m3 vs natural gas at 38.7MJ/m3

• LPG requires a higher air to gas ratio for combustion at a 25 to 1 ratio vs 10 to 1 ratio for natural gas

• LPG is liquefied through pressurisation vs natural gas which is cryogenically turned to liquefied natural gas – LNG

• LPG is distributed in gas bottles and tanks vs natural gas being conveyed via pipeline

• LPG appliances operate at 2.75 kPa vs 1.1 kPa for natural gas appliances

LPG is not natural gas but it is derived from natural gas processing.
LPG is better than natural gas because it has a higher energy content, it is portable and available everywhere, and in many cases it is now less expensive.
Natural gas is better than LPG when it comes to delivery through pipes and the fact that it produces slightly less CO2 when burned.
LPG vs natural gas - difference between LPG and natural gas 
Comparing LPG vs natural gas, propane is heavier than air and will settle whilst natural gas is lighter than air and will dissipate more quickly if there is a leak, which may be a safety benefit over LPG.
In summary, the differences between LPG vs natural gas are different energy content, density, storage, delivery methods and the amount of air required for proper combustion.
Propane is not natural gas but natural gas processing is one source of propane.
So, LPG (LP) gas is not the same as natural gas, even though both are flammable hydrocarbon gases. However, they are used for many of the same applications.

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-Can I use my previous conversion kit, if I buy a  new car?

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Yes, if the car's specifications are simillar.

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-What happens when a car runs out of autogas far from a filling station??

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All cars using autogas can change over to the initial fuel by flipping a switch. The driver can select the desired fuel even while driving.

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-Is there a particular smell in the passenger compartment of an LPG-powered car?

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There is no smell in the passenger compartment of a car using LPG.

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-Is special maintenance required for LPG systems and their engines?

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To ensure a good functioning through time the system is subject to periodic checks (ex. Replacement filter) according to a scheduled plan of maintenance each 15-20.000 km. These operations are generally made by the repair shop in the same time withcar's scheduled control with particular attention to ignition and electronics.

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-Is it possible to install a CNG system on diesel vehicles?

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Yes, installation is possible for vehicles with a diesel engine. The system can be installed on all diesel engines, including generators. The DDF (Diesel Dual Fuel) system can be fitted to cars, vans, pick-ups, buses, trucks and tractors. The DDF (Diesel Dual Fuel) mixture varies according to various parameters: the type and configuration of the engine, its power output and, of course, the age of the engine. Generally, between 50% and 50% of the diesel can be replaced by CNG. With efficient, new-generation engines, this leads to considerable cost savings for the user. This conversion not only reduces running costs but also lowers NOX, CO and CO2 emissions, drastically reducing unburnt carbon particles in the exhaust, making it an ideal 'eco-friendly' choice. Finally, DDF increases engine power and torque, prolonging engine life and enabling smoother engine operation by reducing deposits of impurities in the crankcase and consequent oil changes.

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-Which cars can be converted to LPG?

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LPG conversion is suitable for petrol cars with carburettor, turbo, injection, catalytic and Euro-6 approved engines.
LPG conversion kits also exist for the most common direct injection engines.

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-Is an LPG system difficult to use?

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Everything is automatic with Gas modern injection systems. All the driver needs to do is fill up with gas, push the fuel-switch and… start saving!

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-What is LPG?

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Liquefied petroleum gas, also known as LPG or AutoGas, is a mixture of gases present in natural gas or dissolved in oil. The gaseous components at room temperature of LPG – propane and butane – are easy to liquify and hence their name.

LPG / AutoGas is the fuel for a new sustainable mobility. Using LPG / AutoGas you contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases and the improvement of urban air quality. 

LPG cars are bifuel, that is, they run on gas and gasoline or diesel. In the case of gasoline engines, if the LPG tank runs out, the system switches manually or automatically to gasoline mode without the driver perceiving it, except for an indicator light. In the case of diesel tanks, the electronic system makes the fuels mix in the proper proportions.

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-What is CNG?

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CNG, also known as compressed natural gas, is an eco-friendly alternative to gasoline. Made by compressing natural gas (methane) down to less than 1% of its volume, CNG fuel is safer than gasoline and diesel because it is non-toxic and does not contaminate ground water. This natural gas is the same gas that you use daily to heat your home and water, cook on the stove and even to dry your clothes in a dryer. The use of CNG fuel is becoming more popular with both commercial and non-commercial vehicles.

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-What is LNG?

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LNG is natural gas that has been cooled to –260° F (–162° C), changing it from a gas into a liquid that is 1/600th of its original volume. This dramatic reduction allows it to be shipped safely and efficiently aboard specially designed LNG vessels.

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-What is L-CNG?

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“L-CNG” means CNG produced at the fueling station from LNG by pumping and vapourisation.

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-Do NGVs operate differently than diesel or gasoline??

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NGVs operate on the same basic principles as gasoline-powered vehicles. When the engine in an NGV is started, natural gas flows from the storage cylinders into a fuel line. Near the engine, the natural gas enters a regulator to reduce the pressure. Then the gas feeds through a gaseous fuel-injection system, which introduces the fuel into the cylinders. Sensors and computers adjust the fuel-air mixture so that when a spark plug ignites the gas, it burns efficiently and very cleanly. For LNG, the liquid is heated, converting it back to a gas. From that point on, the process is similar to CNG engines. Since natural gas is a gas rather than a liquid at standard pressure and temperature, some modifications are required to make an NGV work efficiently. These changes are primarily in the fuel storage tank, fueling receptacle/nozzle and the engine. The specially designed tanks that contain the CNG or LNG onboard the vehicle weigh more and take up more space than gasoline or diesel containers.

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