Repsol YPF

Autogas is a special mixture of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for automobiles. The mixture is composed of butane (C4H10) and propane (C3H8) and is defined at a European level by the UNE EN 589 regulation. The minimum propane content is 20% and the maximum butane content is 80%. You can fill up in service stations which are equipped to supply vehicles with autogas. 

This fuel is extracted as part of oil refining or from natural gas deposits. Its state at room temperature and atmospheric pressure 1 is gas. In order to obtain liquid at atmospheric pressure, the temperature of the butane must be below -0.5°C and that of the propane below -42.2°C. Meanwhile, in order to obtain liquid at room temperature, the autogas must be subjected to pressure of approximately 2 atmospheres. It is immediately available since storage, distribution and consumption technology is fully developed.

Benefits
If autogas is compared with diesel its nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are 90% lower and particle emissions are 97.5% lower. Another of the advantages of this fuel are the low CO2 emissions, considered to be the main culprit of the greenhouse effect causing atmospheric warming, and the halving of noise levels related to diesel engines. A vehicle fuelled with autogas obtains practically the same performance and power as with petrol, at a much lower cost.

These are some of the reasons why Madrid taxis, among other groups, also want to promote the use of this fuel, as a cleaner and more efficient energy. Its use contributes towards sustainability since it helps to improve the city’s air quality. As well as the environmental and energy diversity benefits there is the financial saving obtained by its use. 

According to the Association of Liquefied petroleum Gas Operators, the majority of countries are committed to autogas. Widespread use of this fuel in public transport contributes towards meeting the European Union air quality directives. Moreover, if it extends sufficiently, the European Union’s pledge that LPG for automobiles will represent 5% of the total energy consumed in the European transport sector by 2020 will become a reality.

Bi-fuel vehicles
Any vehicle with a spark engine can be powered by autogas (petrol engines, not diesel.) What are known as bi-fuel vehicles are capable of using either LPG or petrol as a fuel totally safely.

In order for a vehicle to be able to use autogas it must have a specific storage and fuel system composed of a liquid gas tank, a vaporiser, a network of pipes, an injection mechanism and an electronic control unit. Some car manufacturers sell bi-mass-produced fuel vehicles which do not require any transformation.

The driver decides which fuel he is going to use by simply pressing a button, without having to stop the vehicle and without any impact on driving. If one of the fuels runs out the engine is automatically powered by the other.

There are many other vehicles, such as fork-lift trucks, which can work using an LPG. This type of machine has a lower cost, longer life, is powered by a cheaper fuel, has lower maintenance costs, is quicker to refuel and has a greater range than electric ones. Compared to diesel fork-lift trucks, in addition to the above, those using autogas generate less pollutants and less noise.

As a result, it may be concluded that the use of autogas as a fuel enables significant financial and environmental savings.

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