C2572 02 Apr-May 06 AW - LP Gas Magazine

AUTOGAS CONVERSION EQUIPMENT
Vintage Fiat 508cc 935 with Tartarini cng conversion, circa 1939.
LONG, LONG AGO…
by Nikki Key, operations manager, Autogas 2000 Ltd
I wasn't quite sure where to start
when Faye Spiers rang and asked
me to compile a little piece for this
issue. "Some technical information
on lpg autogas conversions and how
they work?" she suggested.
Well, all of you engineers out there
will know that's about as easy as
estimating the dimensions of that
infamous piece of string!
Not being technical but having at
hand some of the UK's most
experienced time-served conversion
engineers, it was agreed that a
simple synopsis of the past and
present conversion systems would
be my motif.
It may come as a surprise to many
but it all began way back in the late
1930s when shortages of petrol led
to some innovative experimentation.
The earliest conversions utilised the
captured gaseous emissions from
burning coal in a large bag, invariably
carried on the roof of the vehicle.
Fond memories of a classic Dad's
Army episode spring to mind!
This was soon followed with early
lpg and cng being introduced into the
carburettor of a conventional petrol
engine by means of a
vaporiser/regulator and venturi
system. Tartarini Auto, one of Europe's
leading system manufacturers, has
been producing conversion
components for over 60 years and the
earliest lpg and cng systems involved
carrying the lpg pressure cylinders on
the roof of the vehicle in order to
provide some range. Provision for
refuelling was sparse, to say the least.
Over the following years, several
Italian companies persevered with
the technology in Europe, followed
keenly by the Dutch, and the first
commercially available lpg systems
went onto the Italian market in 1966.
As petrol engines have advanced in
their complexity, so too have the
conversion systems to provide
satisfactory dual fuel options.
The introduction of closed loop
catalytic controlled engines posed
some complex problems, particularly in
convincing the petrol engine
management systems that all was well
when emission signatures would
suggest otherwise (lpg emitting cleaner
tailpipe emissions than petrol). Through
intensive r&d, these problems were
overcome with emulation and product
development and, throughout the mid
to late 1990s, this formed the basis of
standard conversions. However,
nothing stands still, and greater
requirement for improved tailpipe
emissions on Euro 3 and 4 engines
demand ever more efficient conversion
systems and fuel strategies.
The recent introduction of full
sequential gas injection systems that
utilise sophisticated injector units
with slave ECU technology has been
greatly appreciated by installers and
customers alike, providing more
efficient lpg operation, further
improving emissions and fuel
efficiency. The average cost of
converting a petrol vehicle has, in
real terms, decreased dramatically
over the years as greater numbers of
vehicles are converted.
System reliability is much
improved and, with the introduction
of the LPGA Approved Installers
Scheme, customers can be assured
of quality and safety from over 200
retrofit conversion companies
throughout the UK. These installers
now provide over 95% of
conversions since the withdrawal of
most of the vehicle manufacturer
options and, in many cases, a full
vehicle warranty is provided.
The UK government recognises
the advantages of using lpg as an
automotive fuel and has adjusted the
duty levels accordingly over
successive years in order to promote
uptake. Grants have also been
available and Transport for London,
recognising the advantages to local
air quality, include many lpg vehicles
in the exemption listing for
congestion charges.
The pressure on system
manufacturers increases in the quest
to further improve emissions and to
ensure that lpg maintains its place at
the forefront of viable alternatives to
petrol and diesel. Security of supply of
traditional fuels is more frequently in our
headlines and more and more
customers are taking a closer look at
the lpg/autogas options that can satisfy
the market on grounds of supply in
harmony with the environment.
Contact Autogas 2000 Ltd on
01845 523213
www.autogas.co.uk
16
LP GAS MAGAZINE APRIL/MAY 2006