THE ENVIRONMENT & LPG

LPG AUTOGAS=CLEANER-GREENER-CHEAPER

The Environment
It is the constituents of air that make life possible on our planet Earth. Living organisms obtain energy through ‘burning’ carbon with oxygen. This produces carbon dioxide. Fortunately, all green plants turn carbon dioxide (CO2) back into carbon and oxygen through photosynthesis.
Burning wood returns the same amount of CO2 to the atmosphere that it removed when it originally grew. The earth was in balance until we started removing fossil fuels (coal, oil etc).Burning these in large quantities is now releasing the CO2 that took millions of years to originally create. The excess carbon dioxide is trapped in the atmosphere and acts like a greenhouse, absorbing ever more of the sun’s heat. This will cause irreparable damage to our future and our planet.
An estimated up to 24,000 early deaths per year result from poor air quality in Britain's cities - mainly as a result of vehicle emissions!
The arguments are there to clean up our transport system and there are viable alternatives to traditional petrol and diesel. These are here NOW, so what will your choice be?

Driving on LPG (Autogas) reduces Carbon Dioxide emissions by 10 - 15%

Why LPG
There are two types of gaseous fuel that are currently powering vehicles - LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas).

Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, AutoGas, LP Gas, Commercial Propane or Commercial Butane as it is variously known is currently the most viable option as an 'alternative' motor fuel in the UK.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a natural hydrocarbon fuel made up of propane and butane. It has the special property of becoming liquid when under pressure, and reverting to gases at atmospheric pressure. This means it can be easily and conveniently stored as a liquid – a big advantage over natural gas, which will only turn to liquid at extremely low temperatures. What’s more, LPG is 250 times denser as a liquid than as a gas mix. So, a lot of fuel can be stored in a relatively small space, for use almost anywhere. Have a look at ‘About LPG’ on the LP Gas Association website www.lpga.co.uk for more information on LPG’s chemical make-up and safe handling.
LPG is exceptionally safe, the tanks are designed to withstand many times the minimum safety requirements & fitted with pressure release valves, in worldwide studies they have been found to be marginally safer than petrol. Remember, the LPG is kept in pressurised steel containers specifically designed for the job.

LPG is better for your engine
An LPG conversion will reduce engine wear, a simple chemical make-up means it’s cleaner burning and as it is already in gaseous form when it enters the combustion cylinder, it burns cleaner than petrol or diesel. Fewer deposits build up in your car engine, so it will run smoother and last longer. This means fewer emissions out of the exhaust and less carbon deposits in the engine & oil. These deposits are very abrasive and can contribute to engine breakdowns. The oil will not contaminate so quickly and spark plugs will also last longer. Modern LPG conversions suffer no noticeable loss of performance. Engines will run smoother and be slightly quieter. The only additional servicing is that the LPG system should be inspected annually by a specialist LPG technician, this normally takes about half an hour and is not expensive.
LPG burns slightly less efficiently (usually between 5% - 15%) than petrol. So if a vehicle which usually does about 30 miles per gallon on petrol, will do about 27 mpg on LPG. This figure can vary due to vehicle make, age and condition of engine. 'Fall Off' is more than offset however by the massive price difference between the fuel costs.

Where does it come from?
Liquefied Petroleum Gas, is made up of propane and butane. It is a by-product of oil extraction and refining operations, particularly when using North Sea 'wet' crude. Consequently, the UK has an abundant supply. Currently the UK exports LPG and imports petrol.
About 60% of the world supply of LPG comes from the separation of natural gas products, and 40% is a by-product from the refining of crude oil. In the past, LPG has been considered as waste and flared off; now it is recognised as a major energy source. It is produced in vast quantities (the UK produced 6.8 million tonnes in 2003) and exported over 3 million tonnes. Only 50 Thousand tonnes (7.75%) were used as Autogas the rest was used for domestic or agricultural heating or in chemical or refinery operations. It is particularly abundant in the North Sea’s ‘wet’ crude oil and offers security of U.K. fuel supply for many yearsLPG

LPG is better for the environment than either petrol or diesel
Firstly the chemical nature of the fuel ensures that it burns cleaner producing less pollution. LPG has the potential to make a huge difference to local air quality, particularly in urban areas, Secondly; it is produced as a by-product of oil extraction and refining operations. The UK produces a surplus of millions of tonnes each year.

One of the Largest users of LPG across the UK are its Police Forces, in the main, most Volvo's operated on the motorways of the UK are fuelled by LPG. Next time you see one have a look for the tell tale autogas filler cap near the petrol filler cap.
Notable users of LPG are, The Queen who has numerous LPG powered cars, Prince Philip, Tony Blair and The President of the United States.
The means of filling a vehicle is similar to petrol and diesel, LPG dispensers are now appearing on forecourts across the country around 1300 (Jan 2007).LPG Prices tend to vary quite considerably at the moment, but on a garage forecourt LPG costs considerably Less per litre than petrol or diesel.
Many gas companies will arrange for you to have your own LPG tank installed so that, you can fill up from your own premises and purchase LPG direct from a gas company at wholesale prices. There are basic safety standards to be observed and road fuel tax to be added.
In terms of ecological benefits, LPG reduces harmful emissions by up to 90% compared to petrol and diesel engines, making it friendlier to the environment and your vehicle.

*Based on tests undertaken at Millbrook

Department of Health statistics suggest that particulates are responsible for several thousand advanced deaths each year, and many thousands of instances of illness and reduced activity. Road transport is the largest single source for particulates and LP Gas can reduce these emissions by 90%, compared to diesel.

The other pollutant highlighted by the Governments NAQS report as causing significant problems and requiring further measures to meet the set targets is Oxides of Nitrogen. As shown above, substantial reductions in Oxides of Nitrogen emissions can be made by using LP Gas.
Noise is another pollution causing increasing concern as stated in the Government’s "New Deal for Transport" White Paper. LP Gas engines are 50% quieter than diesel engines and marginally quieter than petrol engines.

Although the UK has one of the highest concentrations of vehicles per mile of road in the world, it is amongst the lowest in using LP gas-powered vehicles. Other countries have recognised its environmental advantages and encouraged its development with over 4 million vehicles now in operation worldwide. In the UK we currently have only around 21,000 vehicles running on LP Gas but with the suitable financial incentives from the Government it is forecast that this number will increase substantially over the next few years.

In Japan which has specific congestion and pollution problems, virtually all the taxis run on LP Gas and the country has the highest usage of automotive LP Gas in the world. Italy has the highest number of vehicles running on the fuel with around 1,100,000 followed by Australia with 490,000, North America with 400,000 and the Netherlands with 360,000.

The World's known reserves of gas are far greater than those of crude oil from which Petrol & Diesel is derived. LPG will, therefore, remain readily available well into the future.

Better for budgets. Better for the environment. Whether you pit it against petrol or diesel, Autogas is the clear winner.

Advantages
LPG vehicles can significantly reduce output of key target pollutants - Nitrogen Oxide.
LPG produces virtually no smoke or particles!

LPG is burnt far better than petrol, and produces virtually no ozone - the main component of smog.
LPG refueling stations are currently being introduced at the rate of one per day, and we are set to have 1300 refueling sites by the end of 2006. LPG Refueling stations map @ http://www.lpga.co.uk also at http://www.lpgmap.co.uk/ & http://www.boostlpg.com
Most types of vehicles that run on petrol can run on LPG, that means they are dual fuel vehicles, and can run on either petrol or gas, this can give you greater range all at the flick of a switch!
According to research in Europe, LPG vehicles emit 10% LESS carbon dioxide than their petrol counterparts. Carbon dioxide, nitric oxides and particulates are key contributors to problems like poor air quality and global warming.
The same investigation discovered that LPG is much cleaner than diesel when it comes to Nitric Oxides - it would, in fact, take around 20 LPG cars to produce as much NOx as is pumped out by just one diesel-powered car.
What's more, diesel vehicles give off far more fine particulates - around 120 times as many as an LPG powered vehicle.
Even aside from the emission of dangerous gases, LPG has many other benefits over the more traditional fuels.
With the significant environmental advantages of using LPG, motorists changing to this fuel will not only see cost savings of over 50% on Petrol & 30% on Diesel but will also be improving the environment by way of both carbon savings and enhanced air quality.
· Noise from Autogas-powered engines is quieter than from diesel engines, keeping sound pollution to a minimum.
· Should a fuel spill occur, LPG will evaporate quickly - so there is no risk of ground or water contamination. The same cannot be said about petrol and diesel.
· LPG can be found naturally, as a by-product of the gas extraction process. Around 60% of the UK's LPG is found in this manner.

Driving on LPG (Autogas) reduces Carbon Dioxide emissions by 10 - 15%

Did You Know That...
...in 6,000 miles a car will produce roughly its own weight in CO2 ?
...transport is responsible for about 25% of the UK's output of CO2, the main gas implicated in global warming?
...an estimated up to 24,000 early deaths per year result from poor air quality in Britain's cities - mainly as a result of vehicle emissions!
The arguments are there to clean up our transport system, and there are viable alternatives to traditional petrol and diesel. These are here NOW, so what will your choice be?

What is the future for LPG prices?
The Government has committed itself to reducing pollution. The environmental credentials of LPG are proven. Therefore it is extremely unlikely that the duty differential between LPG, petrol and diesel will be reduced. The duty on LPG has been fixed until 2007, and will remain at least half the price of petrol and diesel for the foreseeable future.