Lpg Conversion

[Dragon]

That depends entirely on where the gas comes from.

The reason the Government offered money for conversions is that a lot of the UK's own oil production has gas associated with it. The gas was treated as a waste product and was being flared off, resulting in CO2 emissions but without doing anyone any good.

To prevent these wasteful emissions of CO2, Government decided to encourage the oil companies to collect the gas and, by offering a lower rate of duty and help towards the cost of conversion, encourage its use in motor vehicles.

The thinking was that vehicles using LPG would not be using petrol/diesel, so the CO2 emissions from the petrol/diesel their owners did not burn in their cars would be saved. The same amount of CO2 would be emitted from the LPG whether it was flared off or used in a vehicle, so there was a significant net saving in CO2 emissions.

Of course there came a point where the sales of automotive LPG rose to equal the supply of oil-associated gas from the oil companies. At that point, the Government stopped offering subsidies for conversion but the duty advantages of LPG were retained.

Over the next few years, as North Sea oil production falls, the supply of oil-associated gas will also fall. That is why the duty advantage of LPG is gradually being eroded, to make sure that only the oil-associated gas is subsidised.

If the LPG doesn't come from oil-associated gas, it has to be manufactured from natural gas, and that obviously doesn't offer any saving at all in CO2 emissions. The saving arises only where gas would otherwise be flared off as a waste by-product of oil extraction.

Very good points.

 

[BTB 500]

Of course oil companies (and Calor etc.) have sold large amounts of LPG for decades.

I suspect flare gas recovery would have been developed regardless of automotive LPG use, because of (a) an overall drive within the industry to cut costs & reduce waste and (b) pressure from environmentalists to reduce emissions from rigs etc.

 

[silverfox]

lpg fitted

I had an old 1984 230T I decided to fit a lpg system to it using a 90ltr tank I bought a Bigas 4 cyl seqential system on Ebay completewith lpg safety instructions and wiring diagram. . It took me a few days to decide on the best way to fit it. But fit it I did, not compromising on safety in any way, I even fitted safety features like flash back arrestors that you dont really need, but I felt the quality fit I did justified it. Car ran great, until I was ran into in aside shunt by an idiot boy racer, car was write off. Anyway it still seemed good idea, and I will bedoing it again if I can find a Merc that will not cost mea fortune. Saved the LPG gear off my old one

 

[Matt_Bigwood]

I had an approved LPG conversion done on my 96 E280 last year and it has been great - no noticeable difference in performance, and much cheaper to fill up. The company that fitted it said that Mercs tend to suit conversions better than many other cars, with Range Rovers being problematic.

I'd certainly have it done agin in future.

 

[Dragon]

Anybody got it done at Green Fuel and willing to share your experience?

Any reduction in VED?

What I read at Green Fuel, it will be dual fuels not sure entitled to drive thru CC zone in London without payment.

 

[joeywarren]

I had an old 1984 230T I decided to fit a lpg system to it using a 90ltr tank I bought a Bigas 4 cyl seqential system on Ebay completewith lpg safety instructions and wiring diagram. . It took me a few days to decide on the best way to fit it. But fit it I did, not compromising on safety in any way, I even fitted safety features like flash back arrestors that you dont really need, but I felt the quality fit I did justified it. Car ran great, until I was ran into in aside shunt by an idiot boy racer, car was write off. Anyway it still seemed good idea, and I will bedoing it again if I can find a Merc that will not cost mea fortune. Saved the LPG gear off my old one

Hello there - small world..! Is Bessie still on your drive?! All, I can attest the the man's installation skills, albeit non LPGA .
>Joe

 

[joeywarren]

I had an approved LPG conversion done on my 96 E280 last year and it has been great - no noticeable difference in performance, and much cheaper to fill up. The company that fitted it said that Mercs tend to suit conversions better than many other cars, with Range Rovers being problematic.

I'd certainly have it done agin in future.

Who did you use, Matt?

 

[Matt_Bigwood]

Green Conversions in Warwickshire did the conversion last October for a cost of £1800. They are an accredited fitter and recognised by my insurance company (Direct Line) with no increase in premiums.

As I mentioned, there have been no problems and I'd have no hesitation recommending an LPG conversion.

Matt

 

[lotusmark2]

I'm even thinking of doing this on my 1.6 Meriva as I do 20k miles a year.
That or looking at alternative fuel cars...... just can't deal with the stupid unleaded raises every single bl**dy week!