LPG fuel project overview
LPG as an alternative fuel: powering a better future for the taxi industry
An important mandate of Taxi Recapitalisation South Africa (TRSA) is to implement initiatives that make the minibus and midibus taxi industry more profitable and sustainable.
One such solution is the introduction of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as an alternative fuel to petrol. Safe, and more cost-effective and cleaner-burning than petrol, LPG is a proven technology that has been successfully applied in public transport all over the world.
Background
Minibus and midibus taxis are the preferred mode of transport for most South Africans, with around 15-million daily trips. As many as 20-million people use taxis daily due to their flexibility, accessibility and affordability.
However, taxi operators have to endure high, ever-increasing fuel costs that impact their profitability. In addition, exhaust emissions are a major contributor to air pollution and global warming.
LPG-fuelled vehicles offer a solution to both of these issues. Vehicles can be converted to run on LPG, and also still use petrol, without major modifications. The cost savings LPG offers compared with petrol – up to 30% – means that operators can quickly recoup their vehicle conversion investment, and also keep fares down.
what is lpg?
A by-product of the extraction and refining stages of crude oil and natural gas, LPG is a low-carbon hydrocarbon fuel, a gas at room temperature that liquefies under mild pressure. It has a simpler chemical structure than petrol or diesel, and contains few of the additives those fuels routinely do, meaning that it burns more easily and cleanly.
We all know LPG well already: it fuels appliances we use every day, from stoves and braais to heaters. LPG is a proven, safe and cost-effective technology with many applications – including powering vehicles. LPG is the third most popular automotive fuel in the world, used in tens of millions of vehicles.
Because LPG is a slightly less potent fuel than petrol, about 15% more is needed to achieve the same speed or rate of acceleration. In some systems the top end of engine performance can also be “clipped” by about 5%. But it is much cheaper than petrol.
LPG has a higher octane than petrol, and so has less tendency to knock. This makes the engine more durable and less prone to wear and tear during operation. Studies have shown that engines run on LPG can last up to twice as long as similar petrol engines.
Comparison with other fuels
LPG compares well to petrol and diesel, and has several advantages:
- Environmental impact: composed mainly of simple hydrocarbons, LPG is free of lead and most additives, and contains little sulphur. Emissions from LPG-driven vehicles contain lower levels of hydrocarbon compounds, nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides and particulates than standard vehicles
- Efficiency and performance: an LPG-fuelled engine is almost as efficient as a petrol engine (diesel is the most efficient), and because LPG contains little carbon, oil stays cleaner; this means lower maintenance costs. Also, the gaseous fuel also does not strip away engine lubrication like liquid fuel does
- Safety: LPG tanks are made many times stronger than petrol tanks, and are much less likely to leak in the event of an accident. Also, leaked LPG fuel will simply evaporate and not cause environmental spillages
Conversion to LPG as an alternative fuel
Conversion does not involve engine modification; rather, the LPG fuel system must be installed in the vehicle.
A vehicle converted to LPG has a “dual-fuel” system: it can run on both petrol and LPG, and switch from one to the other with the flick of a dashboard switch. Adding the LPG tank extends a vehicle’s range and minimises refuelling downtime.
The LPG tank is installed at the back of a minibus taxi, in the spare tyre space. The liquefied fuel flows under its own pressure through plastic-coated copper pipes to the front, where it passes through a filter and then converts to gas for use in the engine.
The conversion kits currently being installed in minibus taxis comprise the componentry in the diagram below, and take one or two days to install.
While LPG fuelling stations are still relatively scarce, particularly in rural areas, the situation is improving. LPG is thus currently more suitable for city- or town-based vehicles.
Conversion costs
TRSA has come up with three funding options for converting taxis to be LPG-fuelled, designed to suit taxi operators’ pockets.
Sign up today!
Converting your taxis to use LPG as fuel substantially reduces your maintenance and fuel overheads, can prolong the life of your vehicle, and helps keep fares affordable. LPG is much better for the environment than petrol, too – so using it makes everyone a winner!
To find out more about how TRSA can assist you to convert to LPG, contact us on 0860 159 159 or email us at info@taxirecap.co.za
