Ameer Randolph
Bi-fuel vehicles are those with multifuel engines capable of running on two types of fuel, typically gasoline and a volatile alternative such as natural gas, LPG, or hydrogen. The two fuels are stored in separate tanks and the engine runs on one fuel at a time, with the driver able to switch between the two fuels manually or automatically. Bi-fuel vehicles are a type of hybrid vehicle, and they offer several benefits, including reduced running costs, fuel flexibility, and emissions reduction.
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What You'll Learn
Bi-fuel engines can use either gasoline or LPG
Bi-fuel vehicles are those that can run on two different types of fuel. The two fuels are stored in separate tanks and the engine uses one fuel at a time. Bi-fuel engines can use either gasoline or LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). LPG is a combination of propane and butane. LPG is added to an existing petrol engine by integrating an injection system. It needs its own dedicated tank and a slight modification to the engine's fuel lines.
Bi-fuel vehicles have a switch that allows the driver to choose between the two fuels. The switch can be manual or automatic. When the LPG tank is empty, the vehicle can be set to switch automatically to gasoline. A dedicated gauge helps monitor the LPG tank level and displays the remaining driving range.
Bi-fuel engines have separate fuel tanks, fuel injection systems, and fuel lines for both fuels. LPG tanks are pressure-resistant and specially built to store the liquid. LPG tanks have an overfill protection device that shuts off the flow of fuel after 80% capacity is reached. They also have a pressure gauge, pressure relief valve, and a tank valve. LPG tanks are filled in the same way as gasoline tanks.
LPG fuel is cheaper than gasoline, with an average price of £0.6/L. Bi-fuel technology provides fuel cost savings of more than 40% compared to petrol. Bi-fuel models have larger fuel tanks. For example, the All-New Sandero/Stepway has a 50L/40L filling capacity + 50L petrol tank, compared to just one 50L tank for a petrol version. LPG engines also have greater torque than petrol engines.
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LPG is cheaper than petrol
Bi-fuel vehicles are those with multifuel engines capable of running on two fuels, usually petrol and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). LPG is a type of fuel gas that is made up of a flammable combination of hydrocarbon gases, like butane and propane. It is derived from refining petroleum, or "wet" natural gas, and is mostly sourced from fossil fuels. LPG is added to an existing petrol engine by integrating an injection system and its own dedicated tank.
LPG is significantly cheaper than petrol. In 2024, LPG fuel was well under £1 per litre, while petrol and diesel hadn't been under that figure since 2007. The average price of LPG is £0.60 per litre. Bi-fuel technology provides fuel cost savings of more than 40% compared to petrol. The more you drive, the more you save. LPG vehicles are also more environmentally friendly, producing 10 times fewer fine particles than petrol cars and 13 times less nitrogen oxide than diesel engines. They also generate less carbon dioxide and monoxide, and less smog than natural gas.
While LPG is more difficult to find than petrol, there are now numerous websites and phone apps to help locate the nearest LPG provider and compare costs. Some of the big fuel station chains, like Shell, BP, and Esso, provide LPG, as do some supermarket petrol stations, including Morrisons and Sainsbury's. There are 33,000 stations offering LPG across Europe and 55,000 globally. As the number of bi-fuel vehicles grows, the number of stations with dedicated pumps is expected to increase.
LPG vehicles are generally more expensive upfront compared to petrol-only models. However, the savings on fuel costs can make up for this initial expense. LPG vehicles are also free of unnecessary extras and are easy to fill up, taking just two minutes.
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Bi-fuel vehicles are a type of hybrid
Bi-fuel vehicles offer several benefits, including reduced running costs, easy operation, and high quality. They are affordable, with LPG fuel being significantly cheaper than petrol. Bi-fuel technology also provides fuel cost savings of over 40% compared to petrol. In addition, bi-fuel vehicles have larger fuel tanks, increasing their driving range.
Another advantage of bi-fuel systems is their flexibility in fuel choice. The most common technology and alternate fuel available in the market for bi-fuel gasoline cars is Autogas (LPG), followed by natural gas (CNG). However, other fuel combinations are possible, such as natural gas and gasoline, or diesel and natural gas.
Bi-fuel vehicles are also environmentally friendly, offering emissions reduction due to the different C/H atom ratio. This makes them a cleaner alternative fuel option. In addition, the conversion to bi-fuel vehicles often requires little to no engine modification, and they do not compromise on boot volume or interior space.
Overall, bi-fuel vehicles offer a cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally-conscious option for drivers, making them a popular choice in the market.
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Bi-fuel engines can be converted from diesel
This conversion method is possible because diesel engines are compression ignition engines, which do not have spark plugs. On the other hand, bi-fuel engines typically burn gasoline and an alternative fuel, such as natural gas (CNG), LPG, or hydrogen. The alternative fuel source in a dual-fuel system, in this case, natural gas, can be ignited due to the spark-ignition of a gasoline engine.
There are two types of conversions: low speed (below 1000 RPM) and high speed (between 1200 and 1800 RPM). The conversion process involves installing a gas cylinder in the trunk, along with the LPG or CNG injection system and electronics. The gas is injected directly before the intake valve by a high-speed electromagnetic injector, with one or two injectors per cylinder. Gas flow is controlled by a throttle valve, which is electronically operated by a special control system that adjusts the gas/diesel ratio for optimal engine efficiency.
Benefits of converting to a bi-fuel system include savings on operation costs, minimal engine modification, and non-derated output power. Additionally, bi-fuel vehicles offer emissions reduction and fuel flexibility. When converting diesel generators to dual-fuel, piped natural gas is preferred due to the volume of gas required based on the engine's operating cycle.
It is important to note that running a diesel engine solely on an alternative fuel, such as natural gas, would require more extensive modifications.
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Bi-fuel engines are more efficient than single-fuel engines
Bi-fuel vehicles are those with multifuel engines capable of running on two fuels. The two fuels are stored in separate tanks and the engine runs on one fuel at a time. Bi-fuel engines can switch between the two fuels, using the most efficient one for the current conditions. This means that the most efficient fuel for the task is always being used, so these systems are significantly more efficient to run over time compared to single-fuel engines.
For example, a bi-fuel vehicle that uses diesel and natural gas injects the accelerant-efficient diesel fuel into the engine until a steady speed is reached, then the engine transfers to the more efficient natural gas. This is a more efficient process than using a single fuel. The engine can also continue to operate on diesel alone if the source of natural gas is cut off, which is not possible with a single-fuel engine.
Bi-fuel engines also offer cost savings, as they can cut fuel costs by up to 50% compared to single-fuel systems. This is because the engine can use whichever fuel is currently the cheapest. They also reduce maintenance costs, as they do not require large-scale on-site storage of expensive fuels such as diesel.
Bi-fuel engines are also more environmentally friendly than single-fuel engines. By limiting diesel usage, they reduce particulate matter, CO2, and other emissions, contributing to a cleaner environment.
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Frequently asked questions
Bi-fuel cars are vehicles with multifuel engines capable of running on two types of fuel. The two fuels are stored in separate tanks and the engine runs on one fuel at a time.
Bi-fuel cars offer savings on operation costs, little to no engine modification of the existing vehicle, non-derated output power, and reduced emissions.
The types of fuel that can be used in a bi-fuel car include gasoline, natural gas, LPG, hydrogen, diesel, and ethanol.
A bi-fuel car is equipped with separate fuel tanks, fuel injection systems, and fuel lines for both fuels. The driver can switch between the fuels manually or automatically when the other fuel tank is empty.
Examples of bi-fuel cars include the Dacia Sandero and Duster, which run on petrol and LPG.
