Re: LPG/CNG cheaper?

["Jim Blair" <carnuck@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

A: Here in Seattle, gas is $2.53 (down from $2.75) and LPG is $1.42 at my 
fav station (plus a delivery fee for now due to higher gas/diesel costs) My 
stroker 4.6L motor has been carefully designed to net me 250 HP (taking into 
account for the losses) and will still get me almost 20 mpg in a vehicle 
that got only 17 mpg with gasoline. That results in a 40% gain in my 
pocketbook and all I have to do is have the system I'm installing certified 
by a US tech. (I got the whole system used from a truck wrecking yard for 
$100 that MAY be getting a wrecked GMC with 454 on Bi-Phase LPG-EFI system 
next month. Already spoken for is it!)
   My ultimate system would be dual fuel CNG with home compressor (as it 
takes almost overnight for those to fill up) and LPG as a backup and long 
trips. My daily commute now is short enough an electric car would suffice 
(with regenerative braking I would be charging most of the way going to work 
and using power just to get home!) Wish my balance was good enough and 
drivers were courteous enough to use a bike! (My son had his leg broken 2 
months ago by a hit and run driver that blew through a red light)


From: farna@xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: LPG/CNG cheaper?
To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <ADVANCES62dVXsMfHTg00000055@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Tom, at $1.65 a gallon and a 10% poaer and fuel efficiency loss, I can't see 
LPG or CNG (CNG has a 2-4% greater loss) as being cheaper in the US. 
Gasoline has pretty much stabilized at ~$2.10 a gallon here. $1.65 + 10% = 
$1.81 + 10% (for the power loss) = $2.00 (rounded up). For the $600+ cost I 
don't think it's worth it. There is the argument that gasoline will only 
rise in price, but LPG should rise in direct proportion since it's a by 
product of producing gasoline. CNG wouldn't rise quite as much, but there is 
a steady demand for it for heating and industrial use, like producing 
electricity. As long as it's fossil derived costs will only go up over time. 
Now if you built the engine for higher compression to gain back that 10% of 
power, you should gain the 10% in economy back as well. I guess that's why 
you mention that single fuel is best! If an engine needs rebuilding it could 
be built at 10:1 compression and still have the ability to run on gasoline 
in an emergency and !
 be relatively efficient with LPG/CNG (CNG only engines are typically built 
for 11:1 compression in Australia and New Zealand -- that would be rough on 
today's gasoline!). When I move back to SC maybe I'll get a copy of Mother 
Earth News from the 70s and look at a methane generator. Could run a vehicle 

around the farm on that anyway! ;>