LPG living large in France
Although LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) is one of the least alternative among the alternative fuels, supporters often mention these reasons to promote its use: virtually no nitrogen oxides, lower CO2 emissions when burned, no volatile compounds and no particles to filter at the exhaust pipe. In countries like Italy, France and the UK, LPG is often used, although sales are almost unknown in Germany and Spain. As with most fuels, their use depends a lot on how its taxed. While 1 liter of gasoline costs around €1.50 in France and a liter of diesel €1.40, a liter of LPG costs €0.77. Of course, when running on LPG a car needs to burn more than if it was using gasoline, but if you make the math, it's can be a worthwhile switch. In some countries the transformation (even at the factory) of regular gasoline cars to run with LPG is almost paid off by the state - in France, for example, there's a €2,000 tax bonus if you convert your car or buy one already converted. LPG can be found at one out of four gas stations in France, and the country has enough capacity to produce fuel for 10 times more LPG cars than it currently does (150,000 units).[Source: Le Blog Auto]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 11:59AM (10/08/2008)
MOST Americans could NOT care LESS about emmissions!
They care about ONE thing... COST!
Cost to buy, cost to maintain and cost to operate, PERIOD!
Give them lower costs in pretty packages and they'll buy them in droves.
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gorr 1:33PM (10/08/2008)
I want that natural gas been put on sale in north-america for cars and truck and i want that they put that in new and used cars and trucks and bus and machinery.
As for emissions, you are right , petrol like gasoline and diesel pollute way more with more co2 and difficult to judge pollutants like soot, dust, nox, co and much more that end up in the air but in rain too and it end up after uncontroled reaction with air, water, light in chemical pollutant that enter food and water supply. No surprise that all lakes and rivers in the world are heavilly polluted
with algae and all sort of chemical fishs. Even the sea is becoming polluted.
Natural gas is way cheaper and 10x time less polluting then gasoline\diesel and could have been implemented in nearly all cars and truck but we live on earth and it's not me anymore that rule the world, it's still the ones that don't understand mosus from the old time, more then 2008 years ago.
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Mikeee 4:30PM (10/08/2008)
In the Netherlands about 3% to 4% of all cars are converted to LPG but fully 99% of all gas stations carry it.
Also, the so-called extra consumption penalty for LPG is non-existent with current (1994+) 3rd generation installs. This only applied to carburetted engines and early FI.
Also, last August me and some friends drove from here through Germany, Austria, Slovenia to Croatia and back and used only LPG. It's being sold in more places every day.
Croatian prices were a delight: 45 eurocents per liter.
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Joe 4:07AM (10/09/2008)
As for Germany, LPG is currently in such a rising demand (thanks to tax exemptions until 2018) that most service stations are being converted right now and in most bigger places most stations already carry it. They call it Autogas (LPG) as opposed to Erdgas (CNG) and it costs a little less than in France (€0.72/liter). Only CNG station coverage ist still not sufficient to travel carelessly. But even this is improving as finally most manufacturers get the plot and offer cars with factory ready CNG capability. Popular websites list roughly 4,300 LPG stations and just under 1,000 CNG stations of a total of 14,500 gas stations nationwide. CNG currently sells at €0.96/kg.
Electric charging stations are currently only 55 nationwide, but Berlin alone will get 5,000 of them installed over the next two years already. Another alt fuel namely hydrogen is already available in Berlin and Munich and coverage will be extended strongly next year when Mercedes will launch the new hydrogen B-Class. Exiting times certainly... Always a pleasure doing the Autobahn ;-)
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