It is well known as a tool for barbecue grills and power tools, and as an occasional punch line in an animated sitcom, but people do not really speak of propane all that much. It would come as a surprise to some, certainly, that propane would be used as a fuel to power vehicles. And yet, there are those who will swear to its efficiency in this respect, for a number of very good reasons. As long as it is maintained properly, propane can be more than useful as a fuel for motor vehicles. At the moment it is not widely used, and given its reputation as a fuel for other purposes it is unlikely to go beyond the position of “niche” transport fuel. However, this in itself is enough to make it something to consider.
One thing which propane gas vehicles have over the standard is a much lower level of emissions. It is well known that propane is one of the cleaner-burning fuels around, something which makes it highly popular in its best-known application as a barbecue fuel, and also in some power tools such as blowtorches – the cleaner the flame, the cleaner the end product. However, given the difference between these applications and a motor vehicle – specifically, the fact that vehicles move at high speeds and are occasionally prone to crash – the method of storage necessarily must be different in a vehicle. In order to store propane fuel in a vehicle, the fuel tank must be maintained at a high pressure and in a very sturdy casing.
Assuming that the storage and delivery system is up to purpose, however, the propane gas engine can really make a difference. Famously, unburned fuel and the by-products of burned fuel can make an engine run quite hazardously, due to their negative effect on the oil in the engine. With propane (or indeed natural gas) there is no need for this to be the case, as they have virtually no by-product in the first place. This means that a propane-driven vehicle can be driven for longer without needing a service, in comparison with a vehicle running on gasoline.
It is perhaps the case that propane will never be fashionable as a means of powering motor vehicles – however there is evidence to suggest that it is becoming more popular by the year. The number of propane vehicles on America’s roads is, at present, lower than 200,000, but getting closer to that mark. It is more popularly used in larger, bulkier vehicles with the means to support the propane tank, but its cleaner-burning, engine-saving qualities mean that it will always appeal to a significant, if small, audience. In addition to the engine benefits of a cleaner-burning fuel one should also consider the fact that it has a much more forgiving environmental impact than other fuels.
Although we can be forgiven for not expecting propane to supersede the likes of biodiesel and hydrogen as fuels for tomorrow’s cars, it is easy to see why it is a popular fuel for other purposes.
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Article Source: Propane for Fuel?
