1) LPG powered vehicles are extremely economical for those who drive long distances.
2) If we keep the level of technology as the same, the emissions from a LPG engine are far less than what you’d get with a diesel or a petrol engine. This is because LPG mixes well with air which makes for good combustion characteristics.
3) Manufacturers have to ensure that special safety precautions are taken since LPG is stored in a pressurized state inside the vehicle, often in close proximity to the rear passengers.
4) Pressurized gas cylinders occupy a lot of space, as many a time, the capacity used up to store the gas is about 80 % the cylinder volume. The remaining area is where the gas expands. The cylinder takes up space and eats into crucial boot space.
picture – LPG tank in a Chevrolet Spark LPG
General Motors is en route to launch LPG & CNG cars in India in the next few months. This announcement was made after the American company is trying to strengthen the SUV segment by launching the Automatic transmission variant of it’s best selling Captiva, priced at Rs. 20.3 Lakh.
Karl Slym General Motors India President (GMI) and Managing Director confirmed that their strategy for this year is to bring in more fuel efficient cars and introduce vehicles powered by (other) fuels like CNG and LPG, besides having different power-trains and different displacements. The company will be launching a LPG-driven car in the first half of this year.
We speculate it’s the 800 cc version of the Spark which has been in GM’s pipeline for a long while now. The Aveo, which underwent a minor cosmetic surgery last year, will also be blessed with the LPG heart along with a 1.4-liter diesel engine by the end of 2009. A thoughtful move given the slash in LPG prices by the Indian government. No info on the Cruze or the Beat launch dates yet, until then stay tuned to IAB for more information.
Hyundai has launched the Santro eco, a dual fuel car which runs on LPG and normal gasoline. A factory fitted LPG kit along with the advanced 1.1 petrol engine promises to combat rising fuel prices. Carbon Dioxide emissions are also considerably lesser than the normal petrol version which is good for the environment. The LPG kit is designed to take impact loads without any dire consequences and is certified by [ Read More ]
