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- What is LPG Auto Gas?
- How will LPG be available for automotive consumption?
- Can it be used legally?
- How green is LPG ?
- What classes of vehicles are suited to use LPG as fuel ?
- Does usage of LPG necessitate sacrificing power?
- How safe is LPG in automobiles ?
- What are the logistics and distribution hassles for LPG ?
- Some major advantages of LPG over CNG?
- How has LPG fared in other countries?
- Reasons for LPG's popularity abroad ?
- Which are the user segments that are going to benefit from
LPG?
What is LPG Auto Gas?
LPG is a clean, high octane,
abundant and eco-friendly fuel. LPG is obtained from natural gas through
fractionation and from crude oil through refining. It is a mixture of
petroleum gases like ethane and butane. The higher energy content in
this fuel results in a 10 % reduction of CO2 emission as compared to CNG.
LPG is a gas at atmospheric pressure and normal temperatures, but it can
be liquefied when moderate pressure is applied or when the temperature
is sufficiently reduced. This property makes LPG an ideal energy source
for a wide range of applications , it can be easily condensed, packaged,
stored and utilized. When the pressure is released, the liquid makes up
about 250 times its volume as gas, so large amount of energy can be
stored and transported compactly.
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How will LPG be available for automotive
consumption?
Along with petrol and diesel, for
which there is heavy demand, LPG is also, imported to Pakistan. For
automotive consumption, LPG will also be imported at prevailing
international prices. Domestic production is also slated to increase
with more refining capacity being utilized.
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Can it be used legally?
The use of LPG as an automotive
fuel has become legal in Pakistan with effect from September, 2007
within the prescribed safety terms and conditions. Hitherto, the
thousands of LPG vehicles running in some Pakistan cities have been
doing so illegally by using domestic LPG cylinders, a very unsafe
practice. Using domestic LPG cylinders in automobiles is still illegal.
But Blue Energy's Auto LPG conforms to Pakistan Standard specification
as amended by OGRA and the Auto LPG Tanks fitted in our Gas Conversion
Centers conform Standard of OGRA and has been fixed permanently in the
manner prescribed in the OGRA Standards.
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How green is LPG ?
LPG impacts greenhouse emissions
less than any other fossil fuel when measured through the total fuel
cycle. LPG is a clean burning, high octane, environment friendly fuel
with success in the domestic sector. It generated no smoke of fumes. It
emits extremely low levels of Carbon Monoxide, Hydrocarbons and Nitrogen
Oxides. It emits virtually no Sulphur Oxide and no particular matter.
Conversion of Petrol to LPG helps substantially reduce air pollution
caused by vehicular emitions.
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What classes of vehicles are
suited to use LPG as fuel ?
LPG can easily be used in trucks,
buses, LCVs, MUVs, passenger cars and three wheelers like CNG, it is not
easily adapted to two wheelers. Since engines using gas operate at far
higher temperature. than those using conventional fuels do, new engines
rather than converted engines better serve heavy freight and passenger
vehicles. Frequent breakdowns of CNG converted buses in Pakistan are
testimony to this fact.
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Does usage of LPG necessitate
sacrificing power?
Not at all Unlike CNG where engine
power reduces up to 20% due to gas carburetors. LPG can be used similarly
to diesel with liquid sequential multi point fuel injection. Also since
it is pressurized at a mere 5 - 7 bars, LPG does not require drag
inducing heavy tanks that is the bane of CNG. In CNG as quantity reduces
in the tank with usage engine power also reduces simultaneously and
pressure creating systems have to be installed in order to maintain
engine power at optimum levels (therapy increasing the cost of
conversion to CNG. On the other hand, LPG doesn't face this problem of
power education right until the last drop is consumed. This
characteristic of LPG can even be witnessed inside the kitchen - the
flames on a cooking range using LPG burn with the same intensity
throughout - when the cylinder is full and when it is almost empty.
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How safe is LPG in automobiles ?
Unlike CNG, which is pressurized at
200 bars, LPG is pressurized at just 5-7 bars, which makes it as safe as
conventional fuels. The automotive use of LPG has an excellent safety
record and various crash tests and fire tests have proved that, owing to
the strength and integrity of the fuel tank, it is safer than petrol and
on a par with diesel. The conversion of vehicles to LPG has, of course,
to be undertaken by a competent person working in accordance with the
prescribed standards.
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What are the logistics and
distribution hassles for LPG ?
None that cannot be easily surmounted LPG is easily
transportable and can be stored in stand - alone facilities. Unlike CNG, it does not require an elaborate and
expensive pipeline network for its distribution. Dispensing equipment is
simple and can be operated with minimum support infrastructure in quick
time. Unlike in stand alone CNG filling stations, filling time of LPG
does not increase proportionately with the decreasing quantity of the
fuel in the storage tank. Regulations specify that LPG tankage &
dispensers should be at a safe distance from other fuels, so smaller
fuel stations may not be able to stock and dispense LPG in addition to
diesel and petrol . However, LPG fuel stations do not require elaborate
infrastructure and can be built in quick time for e.g. the average cost
of an LPG dispensing station is $65,000 while the cost of a CNG
dispensing station is $700,000 including pipeline costs.
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Some major advantages of LPG
over CNG
For the same volume, LPG requires a
tank that is 1/3 times that of CNG. The additional cost of LPG powered
buses versus diesel vehicles is less at USD 21,000 for LPG for CNG it is
USD 33,000
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How has LPG fared in other
countries?
The record speaks for itself.
There are around 10 million vehicles in several countries around the
world using LPG as automotive fuel, supported by 21,000 dispensing
stations. Turkey has the maximum number of vehicles running on LPG
(around 1,100,000)followed by Italy (10,00,000) Australia (around
490,000) North America (around 400,000) and the Netherlands (around
360,000) In Japan, almost all the taxis run of Auto LPG and the country
has the highest usage of Auto LPG in the world.
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Reasons for LPG's popularity abroad.
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Driving range is equivalent to Gasoline.
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Engines last longer.
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Refueling infrastructure is affordable and
in most countries the fuel is less expensive.
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Auto LPG reduces vehicle exhaust emissions,
engine vibration and noise levels while providing economical
performance.
-
It reduces oil consumption and waste oil is
less toxic than from a gasoline engine car.
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Which are the user segments
that are going to benefit from LPG?
Initially it would be most
advantageous for fleet owners to go for LPG. Thus Govt. Departments,
corporations, hotels, car rentals, taxis and auto rickshaw fleets,
etc, will be the first to adopt LPG and reap the economic benefits
of using it. As LPG infrastructure comes up, automobile manufactures
will see growing demand from individuals as well. Finally, growing
environmental concerns in our cities will prompt governments to go
in for bus with new engines capable of optimally utilizing LPG.
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Transportation Department
on pipeline network Easily transported by road tankers like
liquid fuels.
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Distribution Dependent on
pipeline networks Supplies delivered by road tankers liquid
fuels.
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Network Establishment
Longer lead time due to pipeline laying Easy to develop, lead
time of hardly three months for each facility.
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