Autogas

Not to be confused with gasoline.
Main article: Liquefied petroleum gas

A Shell Autogas refuelling station.

Autogas or LPG is liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) used as a fuel in internal combustion engines in vehicles as well as in stationary applications such as generators. It is a mixture of propane and butane.[1]

Autogas is widely used as a "green" fuel, as its use reduces CO2 exhaust emissions by around 15% compared to petrol.[2] One litre of petrol produces 2.3 kg of CO2 when burnt, whereas the equivalent amount of autogas (1.33 litres due to the lower density of autogas) produces only 2 kg of CO2 when burnt.[3] CO emissions are 30% lower, compared to petrol and NOx by 50%.[4] It has an octane rating (MON/RON) that is between 90 and 110 and an energy content (higher heating value—HHV) that is between 25.5 megajoules per litre (for pure propane) and 28.7 megajoules per litre (for pure butane) depending upon the actual fuel composition.

Autogas is the fourth most popular automotive fuel in the world, with approximately 27.8 million of 1.47 billion passenger cars powered using the fuel, representing less than 2% of the total market share. Approximately half of all autogas-fueled passenger vehicles are in the five largest markets (in descending order): Turkey, Russia, South Korea, Poland, and Ukraine.[5]

  1. ^ Synák, František; Čulík, Kristián; Rievaj, Vladimír; Gaňa, Ján (2019). "Liquefied petroleum gas as an alternative fuel". Transportation Research Procedia. 40: 527–534. doi:10.1016/j.trpro.2019.07.076.
  2. ^ Brignall, Miles (30 September 2011). "LPG: It's lean, green and cheaper too". the Guardian. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  3. ^ "LPG vs. Petrol". NRMA Motoring Blog. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  4. ^ Tasic, Tadej; Pogorevc, Primoz; Brajlih, Tomaz (2011). "Gasoline and LPG exhaust emissions comparison" (PDF). Advances in Production Engineering & Management. Maribor, Slovenia: University of Maribor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  5. ^ "Autogas.net: The Autogas market". Autogas.net. World Liquid Gas Association. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2024.