LPG Better Than Petrol, Ethanol & Biofuels, Says Former Holden Engineer

[JoeT]

LPG Still The Best Alternative Fuel Option

CarPoint Editor
24 April 2008
www.carpoint.com.au

Former Holden engineer says LPG beats petrol, ethanol and biofuels hands-down.

Dr Laurie Sparke OAM is widely remembered for his commitment to safety, while working at GM-Holden in the capacity of Director of Innovation.

The good doctor (pictured) has now made a forthright statement supporting LPG as a fuel that, adopted widely, would benefit Australian motorists, improve the quality of our air and reduce our balance of trade deficit -- as well as further reducing our dependence on both domestic and imported fossil fuels.

He has called on the federal government to continue supporting the LPG industry and encourage consumers to convert vehicles to run on the gas.

Two principal reasons for doing so in the short term relate to the cost of imported fossil fuel (and consequently domestic fuel, due to the oil price parity policy), and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Australia has an abundant supply of gas from which the industry can draw LPG to fuel cars and, since the LPG burns cleaner than petrol, widespread migration from petrol to LPG for the vehicle parc -- including older cars -- will benefit the environment much faster than introducing more diesel-engined or E85 flex-fuel new car variants to the market.

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New Car Manufacturing Plan For Australia On The Way

Dr Laurie Sparke OAM

[redTT]

For Australia I agree.

All these tree huggers and economists continually ignore LPG. They are cheap, fairly clean, abundant in Australia, widely available and Holden and Ford have existing LPG capable cars.

[nota]

Saw this story the other day and have to agree with these sentiments

It's become increasingly difficult to ignore the cost benefits of gas and/or those reduced emissions - especially in regards to those nasty diesel carcinogens. The conversion rebate was a great idea, yet the (previous) government in its wisdom also effectively 'punished' what has long been the most commited gas player and OE manufacturer, which is Ford. Anyway I think our huge LPG assets need to be secured & protected in the national interest, and taken maximum advantage of, as against ever-increasing petrol importation. There is some doubt that the existing conversion rebate will survive the upcoming budget...

Also noticed this innovative local LPG conversion for all types of diesel engines
http://www.dieselgasaustralia.com.au

[thebuickguy]

HAHAHA the aussies wear bow ties hahahaha

[BBDOS CV8]

Originally Posted by thebuickguy

HAHAHA the aussies wear bow ties hahahaha

Only the hyper-intelliigent Propellerheadus Largecranius. Most of us belong to the more common variety, Bluesingletis Thongsius




Pictured above is actually the closely-related antipodean cousin from New Zealand, Kayoneus, Doubleyouoneus.

(Happy Anzac Day, Un-Zudd Brothers!)

[paul8488]

Interesting. GMDAT already has LPG versions of many of its models. It'd be nice to see them expand on this, or at the very least continue it in the next generations.

[Stéphane Dumas]

I guess some aftermarket specialists could jump on the propane/LPG fray, like Roush did with a propane F-150 http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/04...bon-footprint/

[motorman]

i think natural gas will work just as well and you could fill up at home as long as you have a compressor. that is the problem the govt would have no way of taxing you if you filled up at home. we own several gas wells and i am going to look into natural gas conversion. when GM "hot tested" their new engines at the factory they used natural gas.

[YupYupYup]

Originally Posted by BBDOS CV8

Only the hyper-intelliigent Propellerheadus Largecranius. Most of us belong to the more common variety, Bluesingletis Thongsius




Pictured above is actually the closely-related antipodean cousin from New Zealand, Kayoneus, Doubleyouoneus.

(Happy Anzac Day, Un-Zudd Brothers!)

Ha, ha! You guys are hilarious! That bowtie, sir, is just so proper of you...Carry on.

[PRO_USA1776]

LPG is a byproduct of gasoline refinement. Please explain why this is such a ground breaking event?

[CaptainDan]

Originally Posted by PRO_USA1776

LPG is a byproduct of gasoline refinement. Please explain why this is such a ground breaking event?

I don't know, but I assumed there had to be some "issue". Vehicles that run on LPG have been available for DECADES, and converting an existing gas engine to LPG use is almost nothing. Plus emissions are also almost nothing.

[RedVee8]

LPG is for BBQs

[ogg vorbis]

lpg is cheap, vapourises readily - no fuel pump is required - and emits next to nothing. a carbon fiber tank(s), and ~15:1 compression ratio mean similar power/range as petrol.

[jbernie]

Originally Posted by ogg vorbis

lpg is cheap, vapourises readily - no fuel pump is required - and emits next to nothing. a carbon fiber tank(s), and ~15:1 compression ratio mean similar power/range as petrol.

and unlike in the USA it is readily available at almost all metropolitan petrol stations in Australia as it is used by the Taxi fleet.

That being said.. how viable is the BAS+ system for a Commodore? That sort of tech should be a minimal cost upgrade for the taxis which have the potential to save petrol given the amount of stop/go traffic they can sit in.

[mmciau]

Here is a precis article about the factory fitted Dual fuel Holden VE.

I still have my 1996 VS Acclaim with factory fitted dual fuel. I am in no hurry to get rid of it.

Mike

http://carshowroom.autotrader.com.au...60882920080401