The news that rules in our days through environmental awareness tells us, almost in a forced way, that we go to electrification, that we leave behind our combustion car to renew it for a 100% electric or hybrid one, either plug-in or conventional. . But the truth is that there is also an alternative that not everyone is looking for, but that is really interesting for environmentalism. We are referring to gas cars, and you can do it too by converting your gasoline car into an LPG one.
A walkable transformation towards the ecological
The fight between diesel and gasoline cars against electric and plug-in hybrids makes other motorization options go unnoticed that, although they are not as polluting as these first fossil fuels, do not depend as much on a plug point as the second.
These are the commonly known gas or bifuel cars, which run on other types of hydrocarbons. The two major engines used in motorsports are LPG (or Liquefied Petroleum Gas) and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas). These are two paths that are quite recognizable from the environmental and ecological side… and that you can also do.
And no, we are not talking about buying a gas car, but about transforming yours from gasoline to LPG or CNG. This is a process that has been taking place in recent times in a quite comfortable and passable way towards what can be a greater respect for the environment, and that also looks very good for everyone.
What cars can be adapted
Some car brands offer versions in their ranges that are already adapted to work with gasoline or gas. This is the case of firms such as Renault, Dacia, Hyundai, Fiat, Ford, Jeep, SsangYong or Subaru, which have mechanical models of this type among their models. And not only do they save on fuel: as they are hybrids, they obtain the ECO label from the DGT. This also means that, when converting them, we do not have any limits to circulate through cities and ZBE areas.
Bifuel cars, on the other hand, have a greater autonomy. By adding two fuel tanks, gasoline and LPG, in some cases they exceed 1,000 kilometers without refueling. In addition, it is not an expensive technology and allows it to be adapted to used vehicles in a simple and affordable way. However; Current regulations do not allow it to be done in all cases. It is advisable to inform yourself before deciding to carry out the transformation.
Cars that are adapted to LPG have to comply with the ECE/ONU R-115 regulations. It specifies some requirements to perform the conversion:
- They run on gasoline .
- That your engine does not have more than 460 CV of power. With LPG you can notice a certain loss of power and from these horsepower the performance required by the engine is not guaranteed.
- That they have a Euro 3 homologation or later. This is cars registered from 2001 (although there is also the exception of cars from 1995 to 2000 as long as they comply with the same homologation). From Euro 4 to Euro 6, cars that receive this conversion can change their label for the ECO, which offers certain advantages when traveling and parking in Spanish cities.
How can we do it
The technical intervention to convert a gasoline car to LPG is not complex , nor will it be necessary to carry a bottle full of gas bothering in the trunk, as some imagine. Not much less.
As indicated by Repsol itself, the tank is installed in the space of the spare wheel and is refueled in the same way as a gasoline one by installing a second mouth located in the same space as the gasoline one. Something important, in addition, is that it does not take up space in the trunk and is absolutely safe.
As for its price, the installation of this process in a gasoline vehicle ranges between 1,000 and 3,000 euros (depending on the number of cylinders and the complexity of the assembly and the hours of labor). Once the transformation is done (always in a qualified workshop), the ITV must be passed.
