Prices for gasoline and diesel continue to rise, and the focus is shifting to alternatives – we show the current LPG range ex works: is it worth making the switch??
(motorsport-total.Com/motor1) – the prices for super and diesel seem to know only one direction at the moment: upwards. Diesel is close to 1,60 euro per liter, super also sometimes over 1,70 euro. In view of this, some people will think about alternative drive systems. Electric? Not cheap and only mediocre charging infrastructure. Hydrogen? In every respect rare. And gas?
There are two different types of CNG: CNG (compressed natural gas), commonly known as "natural gas known to be fueled under high pressure. Here the price is currently around 1.10 euros per kilogram. CNG vehicles primarily benefit from a reduced energy tax rate. this will amount to around 0.20 euro/kg by the end of 2023.
However, due to the complex storage of CNG, filling stations are not available on every corner. On the other hand, CNG produced from biomass is environmentally friendly. the primary supplier of natural gas vehicles is currently the volkswagen group.
LPG very popular in italy, poland and ukraine
LPG a.k.a. liquified petroleum gas, in other countries also GPL, is the other gas alternative. It also runs largely under the radar in germany, while liquefied petroleum gas is very popular in countries like italy, poland and ukraine. LPG is neither a niche fuel nor a fad. On the contrary! It has been used as a fuel for motor vehicles since 1979 and has since conquered the world.
Its biggest fans are korea, russia, thailand, mexico and turkey. Today 28 million vehicles worldwide run on autogas. In france, for example, the market has quadrupled in the first half of 2021 compared to 2020 and is 15 times larger than in 2019.
LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) is a mixture of light hydrocarbons, mainly butane (domestic gas) and propane. It is a completely non-toxic gas. Combustion produces almost no particulates and helps reduce nox emissions, which are known to cause respiratory diseases. In total, 60 percent of the LPG is obtained from natural gas.
Ex-works only available from renault and dacia
When used as a bi-fuel, the engine can run on both gasoline and LPG thanks to two separate tanks. The driver is free to choose which fuel he wants to use. LPG fuel emits on average 10 percent less CO2 than gasoline. In europe, LPG fuel is the 32nd most popular fuel.000 service stations, that’s a quarter of the entire service station network.
The dacia duster is available with LPG zoom ex works
In this country, LPG is not available on every corner, although the price of the fuel is interesting: around 80 cents per liter is charged. Until the end of 2022, a liter of autogas will be taxed at just 17.15 cents; from 2023, around 22 cents will be payable. For comparison: super gasoline alone costs 65 cents in energy tax, plus value-added tax. According to experts, LPG is unlikely to become much more expensive after 2023.
Only a few models from the renault group are currently available ex-works in germany with LPG drive. These are the Renault Clio and Captur, as well as the Dacia Sandero, Jogger and Duster. All of them are equipped with the Tce 100 ECO-G under the hood. It offers 101 hp in gas mode and 91 hp in gasoline mode.
LPG models no more expensive than gasoline models
Switching to LPG by pressing a button. Under the trunk floor of the sandero, for example, there is a 32-liter reservoir for LPG in the spare wheel well, plus the normal 50-liter tank for super. The extra weight is around 50 kilograms, but the driving performance remains the same. With LPG, fuel consumption increases by a good two liters, but CO2 emissions drop. The two tanks provide 1.000 and more kilometers of range possible.
The engine consumes about 15 percent more LPG than gasoline, but the average LPG price is 40 percent cheaper. Dacia vehicles that run on autogas emit 10 percent less CO2 than gasoline-powered vehicles and at the same time have more torque and engine power. The available range per tank filling is clearly displayed on the instrument panel. If the LPG tank is empty, the vehicle automatically switches to gasoline.
LPG technology is installed directly on the assembly line in the ECO-G engines. It offers exactly the same manufacturer’s warranty (3 years / 100.000 kilometers), the same maintenance costs and schedules, and the same trunk capacity as a gasoline model.
So far, so good. LPG is currently becoming interesting due to a special strategy of dacia in germany. The LPG versions cost the same as the comparable turbo gasoline engines without gas. 15.190 euros about the dacia duster comfort, from 12.390 euros the sandero comfort.
Dacia models in a driving report:
This means that the sandero can be driven with this engine from a leasing rate of 3.30 euros per day. For those who don’t trust the drive: on request, the offer can also be combined with a full-service flat rate – for only 1.20 euros extra per day.
In addition, since june, customers who opt for leasing or financing for the sandero ECO-G or a duster ECO-G receive autogas for 10.000 kilometers for free. So if you want to buy a car over 10.000 km, so I would not pay anything for the LPG sprit.
By 2020, dacia will have sold one in five vehicles with autogas drive worldwide. In the first half of 2021, they will account for 28 percent of all sales. It will be interesting to see how this development continues.