Autoblog UK

2. Which vehicles can run on autogas? What does a conversion cost?

Autogas is related in its chemical composition (hydrocarbons) to petrol and can be used in a petrol engine once the engine settings have been modified. At atmospheric pressure it assumes a gaseous state but, depending on the temperature, it turns into a liquid at a maximum pressure of ten bar and can be stored in pressurised containers. According to the German motoring association ADAC, very few manufacturers and/or importers currently offer new production cars that run on autogas. The choice is considerably greater elsewhere on the continent (France, Italy and the Netherlands). Fiat, Kia and Opel all offer factory conversions. If the installation is carried out by an authorised dealer, Kia will continue to honour in full the new car guarantee. With Fiat and Opel, however, this becomes a two-year parts warranty which guarantees all the major engine components. A retrospective conversion costs between €1,800 and €3,500. The systems are usually of a bivalent (i.e. bi-fuel) design, so that you can change from petrol to gas and back again at the flick of a switch, even mid-journey.

3. Where can I fill up with autogas?

According to the ADAC, there are already around 2,800 filling stations in Germany selling autogas, though in some cases with limited opening times. The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, France, the UK and Poland all offer, in parts, a relatively good network of filling stations, in contrast to Denmark, Austria and Switzerland. You should be aware that in other countries you may sometimes need an adapter because of the different filling connectors. The ACME connector is common in Germany and Belgium, whereas in the Netherlands the bayonet connector seems to be most common; Italy and France use the DISH connector. Not all filling stations keep adapters, so it is recommended that you take one with you.

4. Is it cheaper to use autogas than petrol?

As autogas is considerably cheaper than petrol (at present, it costs on average 60 cents a litre in Germany), a conversion is probably worthwhile. There are clear economic advantages for heavy road users and for vehicles with high petrol consumption. As the volumetric calorific value of autogas is considerably lower than that of petrol (around 25 percent), consumption is higher when running on autogas. Depending on the engine, the autogas system, the composition of the gas and the driving cycle, this can be 15 to 30 percent more. When making a cost calculation, you need to ensure that the vehicle is not too old and is in a good condition, so that the investment will pay for itself. A useful aid for doing a personal calculation is to be found in the ADAC cost comparison tables: 'Converting to autogas or natural gas?' (Auf Autogas oder Erdgas umrüsten?) and 'Petrol-driven cars versus diesel, natural gas and autogas' (Benziner gegen Diesel, Erd- und Autogas).

5. Is autogas more environmentally friendly?

Even if emissions of regulated pollutants (CO, HC, NOx) do not fall any lower, or appreciably lower, the CO2 emissions produced by autogas as compared with petrol are still lower by approximately ten percent. However, compared with diesel and natural gas (CNG), the CO2 emissions are higher – some two percent compared with diesel and 12 percent when compared with natural gas. Autogas offers advantages over petrol when it comes to reducing exhaust pollutants that are not legally limited, such as hazardous aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g. benzene). (Source: ADAC)