Autogas highlighted as third fuel of choice

Our friends at Autogas UK have welcomed comments from Inigo Palacio Prada, chairman of the Global Automotive Industry Network (GAIN), highlighting that liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stands out as the ‘third fuel of choice for motorists’.

We already know that LPG represents a realistic alternative to petrol and diesel. There are 14.6 million motorists worldwide making the most of its financial and environmental benefits.

In an interview for Automotive Industries magazine (SEpt 09), Inigo Palacio Prada explained how LPG not only saves money and reduces harmful emissions with no loss of engine performance but is also readily available right now, through the Autogas refuelling network – making it the third fuel of choice for motorists.

“Electric vehicles are no doubt going to emerge as an alternative to traditional automotive fuels at some stage in the future,” said Prada. “We must remember that Autogas can provide significant benefits over gasoline and diesel and is available here and now.”

Environmental concerns run deeper than just reducing CO2 emissions. Vehicles running on LPG do produce 17 per cent less carbon dioxide than petrol and 2 per cent less than diesel, but also 120 per cent less oxides of nitrogen than petrol and a staggering 2,000 per cent less than diesel, and up to 120 times less small particle (PM10) emissions than diesel vehicles.

You can read the full release at: http://bit.ly/5SIa0g

Evo test drive the Honda

We loaned the LPG powered Honda to Roger Green of Evo for a week to allow him to deliver his professional verdict on the car.

We're very excited about reading his thoughts when Issue 141 comes out in February.

There may be a sneak preview online before then so watch out at http://www.evo.co.uk/.

Powershift Approval

The aftermarket conversion kit that Prins used on our LPG Honda Civic Type R has been Powershift Approved meaning that it can apply for exemption from the London Congestion Charge.

Any conversions now carried out by Prins using Honda Civic 2.0 litre Type R conversion kits on vehciles manufactured in 2007, 2008 or 2009 are all eligible for the exemption after the Energy Saving Trust granted the relevant certification and Powershift Approved status.

This follows approval on Prins aftermarket conversion kits for various different make and model vehicles.

The London congestion charge currently costs £8 per day, per vehicle entering the congestion charge zone. For a vehicle entering the zone everyday this could represent an annual saving of over £2,000 on road charges alone, not to mention the running cost benefits.

For more information about the London Congestion Charge, log on to the transport for London web site: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging/default.aspx]

Beautiful images of our LPG Honda

We are loving these moody shots of our LPG fuelled Honda Civic Type R that have been taken by automotive photographer Nick Williams.


Follow Nick on Facebook here and view more examples of his photography here.

Keep up the good work Nick.

Valve Care System Fitted

Prins has installed its computer controlled Valve Care system to the Autogas LPG converted Honda Civic Type R ensuring that the correct dosage of additives is injected into the engine.

The Prins Valve Care system is essentially an additive dosing pump, developed exclusively for the Prins VSI LPG conversion system which features in the Honda Type R and prevents excessive wear to the valve and valve seat.

It calculates the levels of additives required based on the engine load meaning that even high performance or turbo charged engines, such as the one in our Honda, are always protected by the correct amount of additives.

The Prins Valve Care system has the added benefit of monitoring the fluid levels so that when they are low, the metering pump automatically switches off sending a message to the engine control unit to switch over from LPG to petrol. This both protects the engine and alerts the driver to the low fluid levels via an audible buzzer.

The dosing pump is activated as soon as the car switches from petrol to LPG which is an automatic switch over and is completely unnoticeable whilst driving.

For more details on the Prins Valve Care system and the VSI-LPG system installed in Calor’s Honda Civic Type R, visit the Prins web site at www.prinsautogasuk.co.uk.

High Speed Gas

Glynn Williams, motoring editor at Southern Daily Echo in Southampton recently took the LPG Honda for a spin. Here is his resulting article.

You can also view the article online at the Daily Echo web site.

LPG BOOSTS HIGH PERFORMANCE VEHICLES

There is a commonly held view that running a car on LPG can reduce acceleration and power. But try telling that to one of the UK’s quickest drivers, British Touring Car Championship star Tom Onslow-Cole, who, with the help of Calor has set the record straight once and for all.

Leading LPG supplier Calor has always acknowledged the benefits of Autogas LPG for high performance cars, but now the theory has really been put to the test. Working together with Approved Installers Prins, Calor has converted a 2 litre Honda Civic Type R to run on Autogas with fantastic results.

Tom Onslow-Cole, who is often seen on the BTCC podium, took the Type R for a spin on the race track, with amazing results.

Tom said: “I was taken aback by the performance of the converted Type R. It handled superbly as you’d expect, but the response of the engine increased.

“The overall performance of the car was better and more powerful, making it a far better track car than I could have imagined. I was really impressed with the car, which was extremely quick around the track. ”

Not only has the performance of the Honda improved, it has been consistently delivering combined consumption figures of 28 mpg when running on LPG. Compared to the manufacturer’s quoted combined figure of 31mpg for its unmodified version, and given that LPG is currently retailing at under half the price of petrol1, the converted Honda has delivered a saving of over 42 per cent, without any noticeable changes to its performance.

Click here to see a video of Calor's LPG Honda in action trackside.

* Petrol prices quoted on www.petrolprices.com 22 October 2009

POWER & PERFORMANCE

Whilst there is still a commonly held view that running a vehicle on LPG reduces acceleration and power, the truth is in fact quite the opposite. Converting to LPG can increase the performance of your car, especially if it is a turbo model or high performance vehicle.

LPG’s high octane rating of 108 compared to 95 for petrol means that converted vehicles can run more boost before the engine’s knock sensor kicks in. Essentially today’s modern high performance cars feature an electronic control unit (ECU) that keeps running the turbo boost until it senses a knock and reduces power. With a higher octane fuel such as LPG, it takes longer for the knock to kick in so the boost continues for longer giving more power.

A lower calorific value for LPG also means a slight improvement in torque at mid-range for improved all round performance.

Honda’s iconic Intelligent Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control – otherwise known as i–VTEC – still features strongly in Calor’s LPG Type R. Kicking in after 5,000 revs, the technology allows the lightweight intake valves to open wider, for longer, sucking in more of the fuel and air mixture to give an instant power surge when the driver hits the accelerator.

Calor’s Autogas development manager Chris Taylor is pleased with the results of the LPG installation carried out by Approved Installers, Prins: “We’ve put our Honda Type R through some pretty rigorous testing and have invited a selection of car enthusiasts to get behind the wheel and offer their feedback. Many can’t believe there has been any change at all to the car as it still feels like a high performance sports car.”

Chris adds “Going to an Approved Installer such as Prins, will ensure your engine is appropriately converted to run efficiently and effectively on LPG. Performance will be maintained, yet cost savings can be dramatic.”

ECONOMY AND EFFICIENCY IN ABUNDANCE

Whilst drivers of high performance and sports cars are criticised for their lack of consideration for the environment, Calor and Prins' LPG Honda Type R example has put pay to the backlash. Sports car enthusiasts can now have both performance with a cleaner, greener fuel thanks to LPG.

Chris explains: “Vehicles running on LPG produce far fewer harmful emissions that contribute to environmental and health problems than traditional road fuels. LPG vehicles produce 20% less carbon dioxide than petrol and 2% less than diesel; 120 per cent less NOx than petrol and staggering 2,000 per cent less than diesel; and in terms of small particle emissions (PM10) one LPG vehicle will emit up to 120 times less than a diesel vehicle*.

In addition to the performance and economical benefits, LPG motoring offers further advantages as motorists in and around London can also benefit from up to 100 per cent exemption from the London Congestion Charge.

There are now more than 1,400 public access LPG refuelling sites with the majority of these on petrol forecourts. Autogas Limited, a joint venture between Calor and Shell, currently supplies around 220 outlets in the UK. A full list can be found at www.autogas.ltd.uk. In addition, Calor supplies autogas from over 150 outlets through its Calor Centres, Morrisons supermarkets and other independent sites.

* Small particle emissions are related to health effects including increased risk of heart and lung disease and problems such as asthma. All figures taken form the European Emissions Testing Programme 2003