1. Topic
  LPG and CH4 Vehicles

2. Introduction
   

Introduction

The use of Road Fuel Gases such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) (Also referred to as GPL) and methane (CH4) can result in significant reductions in PM10 SO2 and NOx emissions compared to diesel. The greatest benefits are seen when compared to large diesel engines. The benefits are less when compared to petrol engines. In addition to the benefits in terms of air quality, engines using road fuel gases produce less noise than equivalent diesel or petrol engines. Road fuel gases are obtained from three main sources;

Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)

LPG is produced from fossil sources. LPG tends to be used in smaller vehicles, particularly cars, where petrol is the dominant fuel. LPG vehicles produce significantly less PM10 and NOx than diesel. However, this benefit is not so significant when compared to petrol engines. Lifecycle emissions of greenhouse gases from LPG vehicles tend to be somewhat better than equivalent petrol vehicles, but slightly worse than diesel vehicles.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

CNG comes primarily from fossil sources. Compared to existing diesel vehicles, CNG offers significant air quality benefits in terms of reductions in PM10 and NOx but usually results in a small increase in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. Air quality benefits are particularly significant when compared with heavy diesel vehicles, and it is in these vehicles that CNG tends to be used. This is because CNG storage systems are usually heavy, as the gas is not available as liquid unless refrigerated to very low temperature. However, lightweight vessels are also available that are much lighter then metallic ones, so reducing consumes also. CNG storage systems are also bulky, but cars like Fiat Multipla or Opel Zafira do not have such limitation because the vessels are integrated in the body, beneath the floor of the car. Air quality benefits are less significant when CNG is used in cars, where petrol tends to be the dominant fuel.

Biogas

Biogas is produced from landfill gas which is cleaned and then used as a road fuel in vehicles converted to run on CNG. There is potentially a large greenhouse gas saving on a lifecycle basis, as landfill gas is produced from biomass, and CO2 emissions produced during combustion of the fuel can be discounted. Close consideration, however, needs to be given at individual landfill sites to whether biogas production is the most appropriate waste disposal option for landfill gas produced at that site.

It is necessary to purify biogas, so it is better to use it for heat and electric generation.

3. Discussion
   

National Governments have a key role to play in increasing the use of these road fuel gases. Measures used by National Governments include reduced rates of fuel duty, and subsidies for the conversion of vehicles to use these fuels. These have been extremely effective. For example a reduction in the rate of excise duty on LPG in France in 1996 resulted in an increase in LPG vehicles from 70 000 in 1997 to 180 000 in 1999, and a 130% increase in fuel use. In addition National Governments have been active in removing obstacles to the use of road fuel gases such as by removing prohibitions on the use of LPG in vehicles, and the removal of restrictions on parking gas powered vehicles in underground car parks.

However, it is important to recognise that many measures can be taken at the level of the local municipal authority to further encourage the use of vehicles using road fuel gases. The measures taken at national level are likely to provide a climate in which financial incentives exist to encourage the use of these vehicles. Further measures taken at a local level are likely to fall into the categories of:

  • Provide further financial incentive / overcome financial obstacles;
  • Provide non-financial incentives to road fuel gas use;
  • Assist in rapidly developing the refuelling infrastructure and
  • Using legislation to require use of road fuel gas vehicles.

4. Recommendation / Conclusion
   

· A diverse range of measures can be employed by municipal authorities to encourage the use of vehicles using road fuel gases. These measures can be seen to complement and enhance the measures taken by national governments.

· The use of these low polluting fuels allows to reduce, in general, all the urban air pollutants (CO, VOC, PM, NOx).

5. Examples / Further Reading

   

Provide further financial incentive / overcome financial obstacles

· In Germany, there are tax reductions available for vehicles powered by natural gas (guaranteed until 2020). Those reductions lead to significant savings concerning the general costs of the car. In addition, the Saxonian Emission and Climate Protection Program foresees under particular circumstances a financial aid covering 50 to 80 per cent of the additional costs of the vehicle. Furthermore, clients of Leipzig communal natural gas provider “Stadtwerke Leipzig” receive 1000 EUR for the new registration of a LPG vehicle.

· Sponsor the conversion of vehicles to Road Fuel Gases. The Municipality of Bremen implemented a scheme providing 3000 DM for each conversion.

· Sponsor the purchase of low emission vehicles. The municipality of Florence implemented a scheme providing a 1 000 000 Lire subsidy to citizens or companies purchasing electric vehicles from certain suppliers.

· Assist citizens with obtaining finance to convert private vehicles. The municipality of Florence is working upon an agreement for financing with facilitated rates by banks and a single office will carry out the necessary procedure. This enables citizens to repay loans for conversion from the savings made on fuel.

Provide non-financial incentives to road fuel gas use

  • Provide free parking for Zero/Low emission vehicles. This has been implemented in Stockholm.
  • Introduce Low Emission Zones (LEZ’s) which only allow low emission vehicles to enter. (See separate INTEGAIRE topic covering on LEZ’s).
  • Facilitate the purchase of vehicles using road fuel gases in large quantities to minimise cost. For example this was carried out as part of the European Zero and Low Emission Vehicles in Urban Society project (ZEUS). In this project 8 European Cities co-operated to secure joint purchase contracts with Fiat, Peugeot and Citroen for vehicles at reduced prices.

Assist in rapidly developing the refuelling infrastructure

· Convert existing municipal vehicles to road fuel gases. For example the municipality of Florence has converted 30 cars (including the service and official cars used by the Mayor and the city councillors) and 7 Municipal Police cars to methane. By the year 2000 the replacement is planned of at least 50% of the whole council car pool with methane-powered vehicles.

· Leipzig today has a network of three stations for natural gas and fourth one is foreseen. The communal cleaning service maintains ten LPG garbage trucks (and 53 fuel-powered ones). The Stadtwerke plan to start operating 11 transport LPG vehicles in 2003. It is the policy of the municipality to transform its own car fleet and that of direct service enterprises of the city step-by-step into a fleet powered by natural gas

· In London the numbers of natural gas powered vehicles purchased by municipal authorities convinced CNG providers to contribute to the cost of infrastructure provision.

· Assist and encourage other local Public bodies to procure/convert vehicles using road fuel gases. For example the organisation ALTER – Europe has held seminars to assist agencies in the procurement of these vehicles.

Using legislation to require the use of road fuel gas vehicles

· Use local regulations to require cleaner technology. For example in Italy many cities have mandated the conversion of bus fleets to road fuel gases for environmental reasons.

  • Provide exemptions from certain regulations for road fuel gas powered vehicles. For example traffic regulations in 18 major Italian cities compel gasoline and diesel vehicles to drive on alternate days during periods of acute pollution. These regulations exempt LPG vehicles.

An Example of a co-ordinated approach. Actions taken by Cities in respect of the ‘Alternative Traffic in Towns’ (ALTER) project

A comprehensive package of measures to promote the use of gas powered vehicles has been produced by the ALTER project for Alternative Traffic in Towns. ALTER is a pan-European project aiming to unite many European cities in promoting low emission vehicles. The project is designed to allow each city to choose how to implement the programme to suit local circumstances. However, it also aims to be macroeconomic in its effect as the decision by large numbers of cities to participate is aimed to stimulate the market for clean vehicles. To date 150 Cities have signed “The Declaration of Florence on Alternative Traffic in Towns” which includes the following commitments;

· To agree, from as soon as feasible, to renew their own transport on a clean or near zero emission basis;

· To undertake, where practical, to convert those of their vehicles with extended lifetimes to lower emission or cleaner fuel;

· To introduce and progressively extend areas of their cities to which only traffic with clean or near zero emissions would have access;

· To decide themselves the categories of vehicles and the date from which measures taken to implement these three main commitments would apply;

· To commit themselves to inform ALTER-Europe of the categories and anticipated number of vehicles concerned in implementing these measures so that the new demand by such categories can be aggregated and transmitted to manufacturers and fuel suppliers.

Clearly the topic of LPG and CH4 vehicles is closely related to the issue of Low Emission Zones (LEZ’s) and in most cases LEZ’s will be used as a driving force to promote these vehicles.

Other examples:

Further Examples:

• Ecological Vehicles in Malmoe
• Hythane – blending hydrogen with CNG for city buses in Malmö

6. Additional Documents / Web Links
   

Last Updated

 

25th January 2005
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