CNG/LPG fueled vehicles
If the infrastructure was in place to readily fuel a CNG orLPG vehicle would you own one? AS it stands now this only makes sense to fleet vehicles due to the the lack of public availability to refuel...
Forum Discussion
I bought a 78 Chev 3/4 ton new October 10, 1978.
Somewhere along the line in about 88 or so I had it converted to LPG.
It really was the best thing I ever did to it for fuel consumption.
I pulled the original gutless 350 and stuffed a balanced and blueprinted 454 - (Original 4 speed) in it and it was one seriously thirsty pig.
Being a record keeper, my overall average for the many years I ran it on propane was 5.7 MPG. But then, I had a huge lead foot and would dump the clutch and roast the tires anytime I felt like it. That didn't help. Knocked a few clutches out of it! :B and a tranny too. Those old Chevy 4 speeds were bullet proof but I managed to break one!
LPG was half the cost of gas and very frequently they had the price of LPG drop down to a tenth of gasoline. I loved it.
I lost a bit of footstuff with LPG (power). I figure about 20%. But with all that torque and ponies, I could still break the back end loose and roast the tires, even with a Detroit locker in the back and the same rack and toolboxes on it I still have today.
Mileage suffered about 20% but the fuel cost half of gas so I was way ahead. My conversion paid for itself in fuel savings in about 14 months.
My fuel range with dual LPG tanks was about 80% of my gas counterpart.
Now as for CNG? For me it was a waste of time. CNG gets very limited range on a fillup. So if you have to hit the highway, you'll be filling up every 75 miles if you're lucky. (based on my old Chevy and the research I did for it) For me, I didn't want to fill up 4 times a day.
Now pointing my info at your question, I have found that over the years LPG especially has lost a lot of popularity and virtually all of the filling stations are gone. Late 80's early 90's the infrastructure was there. I traveled all over BC and Alberta for my work and never had a problem filling up. Just had to use some smarts and consider where I was going and at what time to be sure I would find a station open that sold LPG.
Now most of that is all gone because the LPG powered vehicle has lost popularity and it is very difficult now to find a refueling station.
I used to have an LPG cardlock. They have all vanished.
Again, CNG? OK if you want to stop multiple times a day to fuel up. I personally have better things to do.
I personally don't think LPG or CNG powered vehicles will ever be as big as they were in the late 80's into the 90's
Somewhere along the line in about 88 or so I had it converted to LPG.
It really was the best thing I ever did to it for fuel consumption.
I pulled the original gutless 350 and stuffed a balanced and blueprinted 454 - (Original 4 speed) in it and it was one seriously thirsty pig.
Being a record keeper, my overall average for the many years I ran it on propane was 5.7 MPG. But then, I had a huge lead foot and would dump the clutch and roast the tires anytime I felt like it. That didn't help. Knocked a few clutches out of it! :B and a tranny too. Those old Chevy 4 speeds were bullet proof but I managed to break one!
LPG was half the cost of gas and very frequently they had the price of LPG drop down to a tenth of gasoline. I loved it.
I lost a bit of footstuff with LPG (power). I figure about 20%. But with all that torque and ponies, I could still break the back end loose and roast the tires, even with a Detroit locker in the back and the same rack and toolboxes on it I still have today.
Mileage suffered about 20% but the fuel cost half of gas so I was way ahead. My conversion paid for itself in fuel savings in about 14 months.
My fuel range with dual LPG tanks was about 80% of my gas counterpart.
Now as for CNG? For me it was a waste of time. CNG gets very limited range on a fillup. So if you have to hit the highway, you'll be filling up every 75 miles if you're lucky. (based on my old Chevy and the research I did for it) For me, I didn't want to fill up 4 times a day.
Now pointing my info at your question, I have found that over the years LPG especially has lost a lot of popularity and virtually all of the filling stations are gone. Late 80's early 90's the infrastructure was there. I traveled all over BC and Alberta for my work and never had a problem filling up. Just had to use some smarts and consider where I was going and at what time to be sure I would find a station open that sold LPG.
Now most of that is all gone because the LPG powered vehicle has lost popularity and it is very difficult now to find a refueling station.
I used to have an LPG cardlock. They have all vanished.
Again, CNG? OK if you want to stop multiple times a day to fuel up. I personally have better things to do.
I personally don't think LPG or CNG powered vehicles will ever be as big as they were in the late 80's into the 90's
