Since in 2007 the Government liberalized the supply of Autogas, or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at gas stations, this fuel has been gaining strength as an alternative to gasoline . In addition to emitting fewer polluting particles into the atmosphere, it allows savings of between 40-45 percent in fuel compared to gasoline due to its lower cost. Vehicles powered by LPG currently have the DGT eco label . Its sales in 2021 grew by more than 34% compared to the previous year, representing a market share of 1.11%.
Currently, it is estimated that there are more than 30 million vehicles in the world powered by LPG , of which some 10 million circulate in Europe and more than 100,000 in Spain , mostly taxis, urban buses, garbage trucks or fleets. of private companies , although private vehicles are becoming more and more . But what is Autogas really? What cars can it be used on? Where can I refuel? Do you have drawbacks? We resolve all doubts about the use of automotive gas, the most widely used alternative fuel in the world.
Autogas is the common term used to refer to LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) used as automotive fuel. It is a mixture of butane and propane and is mostly obtained directly from natural gas or oil deposits, 60% compared to 40% that comes from the distillation of oil in refineries. When subjected to pressure, this gas changes from a gaseous state to a liquid, occupying much less volume. It is also practically free of sulfur and other substances such as metals.
This fuel is stored, transported and distributed in liquid phase and is marketed through service stations through a simple and quick filling operation similar to that of diesel and gasoline. The vehicle converted to LPG gas is installed with a loading mouth with a lid, normally on one side of the vehicle. This vehicle starts on gasoline and it does not switch to gas until the engine reaches a temperature of about 40 degrees (it takes a minute). From that moment on, it can circulate indistinctly with gasoline or gas, selecting it through a switch that is installed on the dashboard, an operation that can be carried out both with the vehicle stationary and while driving. In the event that one of the two fuels runs out, the engine will switch to feeding on the other fuel after warning of a visual indicator. LPG-powered vehicles
do not replace gasoline-powered cars, but they are a very profitable alternative for users who travel a minimum of kilometres: with a medium-sized car, amortization can be in the 30,000 kilometers traveled .
Vehicles that can use LPG
More and more manufacturers are including bifuel vehicles in their ranges, that is, with gasoline engines prepared to use LPG . Currently only Dacia, DFSK, Ford, Renault, SsangYong and the new SWM brand offer Autogas models in their ranges: Dacia Sandero, Logan , Jogger and Duster , DFSK 580 and F5 , Ford Fiesta , Renault Captur and Clio , SsangYong Korando and Tivoli and SWM G 01 .
They are usually versions with not very high powers (the majority between 70 and 100 CV) and have an additional cost between 1,500 and 2,000 euros approximately on the equivalent gasoline version. If you are interested in buying a new car already prepared with LPG, we recommend that you ask the dealers because these versions are not always included in the list of brand models.
The most frequent transformations are carried out with models that are powered by gasoline engines since the operation is simpler and the savings more significant.In the case of diesel engines , the transformation is more complex and, therefore, more expensive, which is why it is only carried out in industrial vehicles or large company fleets because they travel many kilometers per year and can be profitable. Unlike gasoline cars, in diesel cars the transformation is dual and the vehicle consumes both diesel and LPG at the same time. In other words, it is a monofuel engine that uses a mixture of 30% Autogas and 70% diesel.
How to convert a gasoline car to Autogas
Another alternative for users of vehicles powered by gasoline engines who want to use Autogas is to go to a specialized workshop for its transformation , some 300 authorized workshops in Spain. The transformation kit costs between 1,500 and 2,500 euros , depending on the type of vehicle. In a simple car, like the Renault Clio, the operation in the workshop can take eight hours of work, and in a high-end model, with an eight-cylinder engine, it can even take three days, since the lack of free space in the engine complicates kit installation.
Today, only passenger cars and vans with a gasoline engine can be converted and are within the power range between a minimum of 30 hp and a maximum of 460 hp, parameters that cover 95 percent of the market. They can be new or used cars of any displacement and size . Once the kit has been installed, the vehicle must be legalized at an ITV (Technical Vehicle Inspection) station. It is a quick and simple procedure that can be carried out by the installer workshop or by the client himself. In order to legalize the transformation, the vehicle must comply with at least the Euro3 emission regulations.
The drawback between buying a vehicle from the factory already prepared for use with LPG or transforming it later in a specialized workshop is in the guarantee , since when making the transformation with a third party it may happen that you lose the factory guarantee of your vehicle. At the level of reliability there are no differences because the kits used in the factories are the same as those used by independent workshops.
A cheaper and more ecological fuel
Autogas has two main advantages, environmental and economic, but there is more.
Improves air quality: This alternative fuel contributes to improving air quality, especially in urban areas, since it reduces NOx emissions by 68 percent and CO2 by 15 percent compared to gasoline.
Environmental advantages over gasoline
– 68% reduction in NOx emissions
– 15% reduction in CO2 emissions
Environmental advantages over diesel or biodiesel
– 99% reduction in particle emissions
– 96% reduction in NOx emissions
– 50% reduction in noise level
– 10% reduction in CO2 emissions
Cheaper: But the advantage that contributes the most to the driver’s pocket is undoubtedly the economic one and it is that on average, both in Spain and in Europe, the price of Autogas is 50 percent cheaper than that of gasoline or diesel. Currently the average price of LPG is €0.853/l compared to €1.509/l for gasoline 95 and €1.387/l for diesel (average data for January according to the Ministry for Ecological Transition). Its lower cost allows a saving between 40 and 45 percent of fuel, a percentage that would be 50 percent if it were not for the fact that vehicles converted to gas increase their consumption by 10 percent compared to the gasoline version. Even so, economically it is very profitable. Compared to diesel the saving is 15-20 percent.
The low price of Autogas is due, on the one hand, to the fact that the LPG surplus expected worldwide is between 11 and 17 million tons and to the relatively low tax rates applied to it.
Cheaper maintenance: Vehicles that run on automotive gas double the duration of the engine due to less wear on the cylinders and engine segments. The gas is cleaner, leaves fewer carbonaceous deposits in combustion and allows the engine oil to stay clean for longer. On the contrary, the lack of lubrication of LPG with respect to gasoline can cause premature wear of the valves. Compared to a diesel, a gasoline vehicle with Autogas generally has fewer and less expensive breakdowns due to the absence of complex mechanical elements such as the turbo, the high-pressure fuel pump, etc. In the event of a breakdown, the components that make up the LPG gas system are simple and therefore their cost is lower. The only maintenance of transformed vehicles is carried out every 40,000 kilometers.
Greater autonomy : A vehicle adapted to Autogas multiplies its autonomy by two by installing a second tank for LPG. The fuel tank remains unchanged and the driver can use both fuels interchangeably. The average autonomy of a vehicle with Autogas is 500 or 600 kilometres, double if we also use gasoline.
High level of security: Autogas complies with all the regulations required of other fuels. The Royal Automobile Club of Spain (RACE), together with other European clubs, carried out crash and fire tests in order to verify the safety of an LPG vehicle and the test demonstrated a high level of safety. The tank, the supports and the feeding pipe system resisted intact. In Spain there are no restrictions for vehicles with LPG to enter underground car parks.
An insufficient supply network
Amortization cost: One of the drawbacks that we find in Autogas is that an investment of between 1,500 and 2,500 euros has to be amortized. Although it is a product suitable for everyone, it is not profitable for all users. A vehicle with LPG is amortized after 50,000 kilometers of useful life of the car. This average figure depends a lot on the type of vehicle and its cost. Thus, a large displacement vehicle with high consumption will amortize the extra cost in less than 10,000 kilometers.
No spare wheel or less trunk: There are two types of tanks, one is cylindrical and is located in the boot and the other is toroidal (in the shape of a wheel) and is placed in the spare wheel well of the vehicle. In the latter case, the spare wheel is replaced by an approved puncture repair kit and the boot maintains its capacity. If the car does not have a spare wheel, the tank is placed in the trunk, although in some cases it can be installed on the underside of the vehicle, although this is not usual.
Few gas stations with LPG : One barrier to the growth of the fleet of gas vehicles in Spain is that the supply points are insufficient. Currently we can refuel LPG at more than 600 gas stations throughout Spain, most of them from Repsol, a company that has made a strong commitment to this fuel.
“We are sending a message to users that Autogas is profitable and has a clear economic advantage. Whoever wants to buy a vehicle of this type will have a competitive and efficient fuel with a sufficient supply network in a few years’ time” , explain from Autogas at Repsol . “The operators are driving the market by expanding the supply network, but the manufacturer is the other important player in bringing this type of vehicle closer to users,” he continues.
You can find LPG at gas stations and supply points of Repsol, GALP, Shell, Total, BP, Cepsa, Avia, Petromiralles and other white brands.
Spain has lagged behind other European countries in the development of Autogas. In Spain, its development stalled significantly due to legislation that limited its use to public transport and due to high tax rates. From 2007 is when the Government considers Autogas an alternative fuel, applying a low tax burden, and when it allows its installation in service stations offering it to all users. Even so, the delay in Spain with respect to other European countries can reach ten years. Europe has some ten million vehicles powered by Autogas and a supply network that exceeds 46,000 points, with France, Germany and Italy in the lead.
Power reduction: Unlike what happened years ago when taxi drivers began to use Autogas, current conversion kits have evolved significantly, giving good results in both performance and reliability. Even so, there is still a loss of power with respect to gasoline that can reach up to five percent. A figure barely noticeable by the driver, well below what we notice when connecting the air conditioning. “We do not know anyone who is capable of distinguishing when it runs on LPG or gasoline. 20 years ago the technology was worse and 20 percent of power was lost, but not now. It is an imperceptible inconvenience,” they explain from the National Association of LPG Transformer Companies.
Currently, LPG-powered vehicles have the advantages of the DGT eco label , in addition, other advantages can be found in the mechanical traction vehicle tax. In the last two years they have suffered a major setback by being left out of the aid of the MOVES Plan.
