How do Electric Cars Compare to LPG Cars?

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by: Glenn Tucker
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Word Count: 1270
Date: Sun, 2 Oct 2011 Time: 4:13 AM
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From winter 2010 to spring 2011, the demand for environmental friendly vehicles rose with nearly 30%. This change was due to the increased diesel prices of up to £1.40 per litre. People are now less interested in the astounding looking and fast cars and have started choosing cars which are cheaper and much more convenient to maintain.
The electric car is powered exclusively by stored energy and it uses rechargeable batteries which can be boosted by commonly used electricity. As opposed to gasoline-powered cars, the electric car is powered by an electric motor. The LPG, or the Liquid Petroleum Gas, is a natural gas consisting in a mixture of propane and butane. The gas is generally known as propane for car use and it is an unrenewable fossil fuel, which uses a higher octane value and increases the fuel efficiency. LPG is the most common used fuel in worldwide transport, after petrol and diesel, because of its eco-friendly characteristic.

Since the LPG is a proven technology, as opposed to the unreliable electric engine which has not been upgraded to match the performance of the gas powered car, will a comparison of the two eco-friendly technologies shed some light over their long-term practicality?
As the oil and gasoline prices are in constant incline, an electric powered car would seem like the answer. As the engine is exclusively operated by electricity, recharging it can be performed from any place which has electricity. The downside of this aspect is that on a long distance, there are no recharging stations and a full battery charge will take an approximate 7 hours. The maximum mileage it can cover is of 180km. These features make the electric car an instant disadvantage for long distance driving. As opposed to the irritating diesel engine noise, the electric car is silent and very eco-friendly, as it emits no CO2. These cars require less maintenance which can be very economical since there are no gas costs and reduced repair costs. Some companies or insurance companies offer special rates on the car if purchased.

Although the electricity is produced by power plants which are not environmental friendly, managing a power plant produces less damage than gas powered cars. Although the electric vehicle costs are less to maintain and it reduces gas costs, the extra costs will be added to the electricity bill, as the car needs will be charged at home. All accessories which come with the car such as air conditioning and radio will wear the battery down.

The Liquid Petroleum Gas is used as a substitute for petrol and diesel. Due to its increase in popularity, more and more gas stations provide LPG systems to refuel cars. This technology is effective as it is cheaper than petrol and diesel. Manufacturers enabled car designs to facilitate the switch from petrol or diesel to LPG and the other way around. LPG can be dangerous as the engine vaporizes less water and the gas is inflammable. This feature however, causes less engine corrosion. The biggest downside of the LPG is that it does not use any replacement for combustion so the lifespan of the engine is in decline because of the damage caused to the valves. When looking at the density of the energy fuel, petrol and diesel outlast LPG, which only appears to be cheaper because of the supported rates.

With regards to hilly roads, the LPG is a poor choice as it provides even less power and torque than diesel. The engine operates 20% less, which makes refuelling more frequent. The LPG has a low vapour pressure which makes it very unpopular in the winter, at low temperatures. The biggest advantage of the LPG is its environmental friendly trait; the engine reduces CO2 emissions by 40%.

The Peugeot iOn electric model provides the same performance as the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, powered by 64 horsepower and 132 lb-ft torque. The iOn can run up to 78miles with a speed of 80 miles per hour. This performance is on a full charge, which can be completely renewed in six hours. A more convenient charging system will be available, which will enable 80% charge in 30 minutes. The Chevrolet Volt has increased the standards of the classic hybrids, but it still remains an electric car with a plug-in hybrid. The four-seat hatchback can operate up to 35 miles on a full charge and it then uses gas for an extensive drive. The electric car is powered by energy from its lithium iOn battery and after the power is worn off, it begins to operate through the 1.4 litter engine, which provides an extra of 260 miles. The Mini E is the electric car in the Mini Cooper product range, which uses a 380 volt battery. The battery can be recharge electrically by using a 110 volt outlet and provides capacity of up to 35 kilowatt. The cruising range of the Mini E is up to 150 miles.

The benefit of plug-in hybrids is that they offer enhanced performance of the electric cars and reduce the classic drawbacks, such as limited driving distance. The main disadvantage of the current designs of electric cars is that the technology is still unexplored. One can charge a 12 gallon tank with 350 kilowatt hours in probably a number of days. It does however reduce time in stopping at gas stations and it is more efficiently charged within a few hours.

The LPG conversion has numerous benefits, one of them being solely the congestion charge which in time can be reduce largely in the UK. The technology enables any vehicle type to run on either petrol, diesel or LPG, with an economical contribution of over 35% in costs. Peugeot Partner LPG managed the same nitrous oxide percentage in a new model, which can save London visitors up to £1,700 per annum, as a result of exemption from congestion charge. The Citroen Nemo and the Peugeot Bipper are a new addition to the small van market segment. The vehicles are equipped with LPG conversion which makes the vansgood value for money and reduced CO2 emissions. The vehicle standard equipment involves power stirring to ensure comfort, ABS and airbag facility for extra safety. Due to the BRC sequential gas injection, the Peugeot Bipper and Citroen Nemo can operate through either petrol or LPG. The LPG technology is very economical, as it reduces up to 30% fuel costs. These highly practical vans have features such as optimal loading height and large side-hinged rear and sliding side doors, to ensure efficient loading.
As the car industry is continuously expanding worldwide, LPG is one of the most efficient gases used, as it is 78% cleaner on petrol and 93% cleaner on diesel. With the UK car population up to 24 million, the LPG will be highly beneficial for both the auto industry and the environment.

When comparing electric and natural gas vehicles, a few things must be considered. First of all, the technology for electric cars is as advanced as it would enable long-distance driving. Also, the damage produced by the power plants to provide electricity is considerable over a long period of time. Natural gases seem to be a more reliable approach to the fuel economy. However, the electric car concept is beginning to rise in popularity. This still does not make it the first consumer choice, but probably with the battery technology improving,the increase of energy storage and the cut down costs, one can have a lot of expectations from major car manufacturers and the future electric cars generation. For now, the public will rely on LPG, which is enforced due to the growing surplus of natural gas.

About the Author

Glenn Tucker is an online journalist from Birmingham covering a range of green, environmental issues and the automotive industry. He has been writing articles and blog posts for online publications and specialises in electric cars, low emission cars, 7 seater cars and city cars.