Challenges and solutions

Across the world, measures are being taken to reduce emissions from road transport.

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Governments around the world are encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles by offering incentives such as tax rebates, subsidies and access to carpool lanes. The development of charging infrastructure is also a priority to support the widespread adoption of EVs.

Promotion of EVs

Governments around the world are encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles by offering incentives such as tax rebates, subsidies and access to carpool lanes. The development of charging infrastructure is also a priority to support the widespread adoption of EVs.

Fuel efficiency standards

Many countries are implementing stricter fuel efficiency standards for new vehicles. These standards incentivise car manufacturers to produce vehicles that consume less fuel and emit fewer greenhouse gases.

Hybrid vehicles

Hybrid vehicles, which combine internal combustion engines with electric propulsion systems, are being promoted as an intermediate step toward full electrification. They offer improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions compared to traditional vehicles.

Public transportation and active mobility

Investments in public transportation systems, such as buses, trams and trains, help reduce the number of individual vehicles on the road. Additionally, promoting active transportation modes like walking and cycling can help reduce emissions and improve urban air quality.

Low-emission zones

Some cities are implementing low-emission zones into which only vehicles meeting certain emissions standards are allowed to enter. This helps reduce pollution in densely-populated areas.

Biofuels

Biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel are promoted as alternatives to conventional fossil fuels. These fuels are derived from renewable sources and can help lower carbon emissions.

Emission standards and regulations

Governments are continuing to implement and tighten emissions standards for vehicles, which encourage the development and adoption of cleaner technologies.

Internal combustion engine bans

Several countries have decided to ban the sale of cars with internal combustion engines in the future.

Gaseous fuels

Several countries and regions offer incentives for the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or autogas by offering lower taxes on the fuel or allowing access to low-emission zones.

Sales of EVs have increased exponentially. However, EVs are not the ideal solution for all countries and regions.

The switch to EVs requires substantial investments in charging infrastructure, and EVs are only as clean as the electricity they use.

Questions have also been raised about the availability of raw materials to scale up EV production.

The role of LPG

LPG, better known as Autogas as a transport fuel, already plays a key role in reducing emissions and improving air quality. Its unique qualities make it an available and viable alternative to electrification for a part of the vehicle fleet.

What is Autogas?

Liquid Gas, including LPG, is used as a fuel in internal combustion engines in vehicles. It is usually a mixture of propane and butane, but other gases such as DME can be blended in.

In the United States, Autogas is more commonly known under the name of its primary constituent, propane. In the UK, LPG and Autogas are used interchangeably. In Australia, the common terms are LPG and gas. In Italy and France, GPL is used, and in Spain Autogas is referred to as GLP. In many Asian countries the term Autogas is not commonly recognised as a generic term, and the use of the terms LPG or AutoLPG is more common.

Are Autogas and CNG the same fuel?

CNG and Autogas are both gaseous fuels, but they are not the same. CNG is high-pressure compressed natural gas and Autogas is composed of propane or a propane/butane mix.

The pressure in a CNG tank is 200 bar, compared to 7.5 bar for LPG. A car equipped with Autogas cannot be powered by CNG, and vice versa.

What vehicles can run on Autogas?

Eight of the ten largest car manufacturers in the world produce Autogas vehicles. Petrol cars can also be retro-fitted with an Autogas system.

Where is Autogas used?

Globally, the Autogas fleet continues to grow. There are now 28.3 million Autogas vehicles in use around the world and close to 82,000 refuelling stations selling the fuel.

Autogas use is still concentrated in a small number of markets. The five largest – Russia, Turkey, Korea, Poland and Ukraine – together account for almost half of world consumption in 2021, while the top 25 countries account for 80%. The share of Autogas in total automotive fuel consumption varies widely, ranging from a mere 0.04% in the United States to almost 28% in Ukraine. The enormous disparity in the success of Autogas in competing against the conventional automotive fuels of gasoline and diesel is explained mainly by differences in government incentive policies.

The market penetration of autogas is strongly correlated with the competitiveness of Autogas vis-à-vis gasoline and diesel, as well as the availability of models and refuelling infrastructure.

Why Autogas?

Safety

Autogas is a safe alternative fuel that is non-toxic, non-corrosive and insoluble in water. Fuelling with Autogas is as safe and simple as filling up with gasoline or diesel. Around the world, vehicles of all types, from cars to tuktuks, school buses to police cars, run safely on Autogas.

  • Autogas requires a much higher temperature to ignite compared to gasoline and diesel.
  • Autogas has the lowest flammability range of any fossil fuel.
  • Unlike gasoline and diesel, if Autogas leaks it does not pool or puddle, but instead vaporises and dissipates into the air.
  • Since Autogas is released as a vapour, it can’t be ingested like gasoline, diesel or alcohol fuels.

Factory fitted or conversion

Factory-fitted LPG vehicles
Many vehicle manufacturers offer models that feature factory-fitted LPG systems. These vehicles come with LPG tanks and components installed by the manufacturer, ensuring that the vehicle is designed to run efficiently on both gasoline and LPG.

Conversions
Many vehicles can be retrofitted with aftermarket LPG conversion kits. These kits include components like LPG tanks, fuel lines, regulators and injectors, which are added to the vehicle’s existing engine system.

Autogas by the numbers

Autogas vehicles

Autogas filling stations

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Autogas accounts for 8% of global LPG consumption

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Global Autogas consumption has risen by 40% in the past 10 years

LPG models sales made up one in every five cars sold by Dacia in 2020

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More than 40% of cars in Ukraine run on Autogas

LPG and
the energy transition

Autogas or EVs?

If we want to reduce emissions from road transport on a global scale, this is the wrong question. Only by combining all available technologies including EVs, hydrogen, renewable fuels and Autogas will we be able to substantially reduce emissions, fast.

Depending on the local context, a bespoke mix of technologies needs to be selected to meet the emissions reduction goal.

In certain regions, electrification of the passenger car fleet could be the best option. However, we have to keep in mind that the emissions story might end with tailpipe emissions but does not start in the powertrain. Electric vehicles are only as clean as the local power mix. If the majority of the power mix is generated by thermal power plants, electric vehicles could actually emit more than Autogas-powered cars on a wheel-to wheel basis.

We also need to take geography, infrastructure and the affordability of electric vehicles into account. Building charging infrastructure for electric vehicles requires significant investment and time. In contrast, Autogas refuelling infrastructure can often be integrated into existing gasoline or diesel stations with relatively lower costs and quicker implementation. This is particularly advantageous for regions with limited resources or remote areas where setting up a comprehensive EV charging network could be challenging.

Ultimately, the choice of solutions depends on the specific goals of emissions reduction, energy efficiency, and sustainability, as well as the feasibility of transitioning to each technology in a given region.

Furthermore, in most cases several technologies can be promoted simultaneously to decrease emissions faster and offer a range of affordable options.

Autogas goes renewable

As increased volumes of renewable LPG become available, renewable Autogas will help further reduce emissions from transport.

Why do governments support Autogas?