Owen Brown (Motorsport) & Auto Repair Limited
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Owen Brown (Motorsport) & Auto Repair Limited |
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Autogas
- Cheaper,
Cleaner Motoring
Autogas is cheaper to run You
would normally expect to pay more for a new and greener fuel. AUTOGAS gives approximately 50% more miles for every £10.00 spent on fuel than petrol and 37% more than diesel. See graph below. (*source: Transportaction).
So, what is Autogas (LPG) Autogas is a gas that remains in liquid form when kept under a moderate pressure. Like any other fuel it is purchased by the litre and pumped into a vehicle via a hose. Many vehicle manufacturers including Ford, Vauxhall and Volvo are now producing a range of vehicles which run on both LPG and petrol. Most existing petrol vehicles can be retrospectively converted. Dual fuel vehicles are becoming increasingly popular with over 100,000 vehicles now on the road in the UK and around 1300 LPG filling stations nationally. There are an estimated 5 million dual fuel vehicles on the road worldwide, approximately 1.6 million of which are in Italy and Holland.
Autogas is cleaner In a recent series of tests* it was found that, when compared to a standard diesel engine (against the current diesel specification EN590), an LPG powered car produces: Virtually
no smoke emissions In
addition, Autogas emits over 10% less carbon dioxide than both petrol and
diesel. (*source: Millbrook Proving Ground). The LPG Industry continues to invest heavily in the new infrastructure and (see the graph below), it is anticipated that one in ever five forecourts in the UK will have an LPG refueling facility providing the fiscal incentives are maintained by the Government.
Frequently
Asked Questions ... HOW DOES LPG COMPARE IN PERFORMANCE TO PETROL? One gallon of LPG weighs approximately 5lbs at one atmosphere pressure and 15 degrees centigrade, compared to 7.2lbs with petrol. The lowest calculated combustion efficiency of LPG is approximately 19.84 BTU / Lb. The resultant calculation suggests a theoretical increase in consumption of around 20% but in practice, the increase in consumption is very small depending on engine tune and condition etc and is more than compensated for by a significant saving on the fuel itself. The discrepancy between the theoretical and practical increase in consumption is due to the efficiency of the equipment used for conversions. Where LPG replaces petrol as a fuel, a small power loss may be experienced. This power is easily determined on a rolling road dyno-meter, but it is not apparent on the road because the difference is so small. The engine however will appear to be more smooth and responsive than its petrol counterpart. As
a rule of thumb:- WHY IS AUTOGAS BETTER FOR THE ENGINE? Oil and filter life can be doubled as LPG leaves less deposits in the combustion process than petrol / diesel; thus reducing the chances of oil contamination. Cylinder and piston wear is reduced because LPG mixes better with the air during cold starts as it enters the chamber as a gas as opposed to diesel and petrol when it enters as a liquid. AUTOGAS – MARKET DEVELOPMENT Although different refuelling connectors are being used at the present time, a standard system will be introduced that will also be the standard throughout Europe. WHAT ABOUT REFUELING FOR FLEETS – YOUR OWN REFUELING POINT? The retail price of approximately 39 pence per litre can be dramatically reduced if a fleet has its own Flogas refuelling system. Typically, these types of installations will suit an LPG fleet that can return back to a central base to refuel. Flogas can advise you on your bunkered storage requirements, depending upon vehicle applications. As a minimum, Flogas will be looking for a minimum of between 5 – 10 vehicles with the potential for the vehicle fleet to grow. The unit itself will normally consist of one or more LPG storage vessels and a liquid transfer pump, feeding a hose and filling nozzle assembly incorporating a “breakaway coupling”, designed to ensure minimal product release in the event that the vehicle be driven away whilst still connected to the installation. Optional extras available include the provision of a gas dispensing meter, which can be a simple measuring device or a sophisticated “petrol pump” style unit. The unit is also compatible with a number of fuel card readers such as Triscan. It is also possible in the majority of cases to link to your existing fuel management system. Flogas can install the systems on site or alternatively, we can supply them fully assembled on a pre-fabricated refuelling unit which only requires connection to a suitable electrical supply. WHY FLOGAS Flogas have been involved in the supply of Autogas for over 20 years, since the days of the oil crisis in the mid seventies when the use of LPG as a motor fuel expanded mainly for price reasons. Further evidence of potential problems were evident during the recent fuel dispute, where fleet managers who had an LPG Autogas policy experienced no significant disruption to their operations. Flogas operates in both Ireland and the UK and we are able to draw upon the experience of our colleagues in Ireland. This combined with extensive knowledge of LPG dispensing systems in the UK ensures that we can offer the best possible advice on gas conversions and the most suitable, efficient and safe Autogas installations. Flogas UK Ltd have also been recognised by the Fleet Managers in the UK for being the best, culminating in the “FUEL SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR” award by VFM Magazine at the prestigious Green Fleet Awards. Flogas UK Ltd were also awarded by the Institute of Transport Management for being “BEST IN SECTOR” in 2000 and again in 2002, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to our customers. WHAT COSTS ARE INVOLVED? With a significant proportion of the conversion costs being funded by the Energy Savings Trust (POWERSHIFT), converting to Autogas has never been easier. The vast majority of manufacturers now have an LPG programme in place and should be able to advise you accordingly regarding vehicle types applicable to your business requirements. Typically, the costs are as follows:- PETROL
LIGHT VAN / CAR = £1,500 - £2,000 (£250 - £750 depending on grant) CALL
US FOR MORE DETAILS .... |
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Tel:
01733 333 623/0845 6066846 Fax: 01733 333 625 ENTERPRISE WAY, OFF BRETTON WAY, BRETTON, PETERBOROUGH, PE3 8YQ
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problems, comments or suggestions regarding this site please email: suggestions@owenbrownautos.co.uk
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