Propane Power for Light Duty Vehicles: An Overview

The result of the relatively little attention given to propane as an alternative fuel in the past decade has produced limited developmental work on the conversion equipment. This contrasts the advancements that have occurred in automotive engine control technology.

Discussion will focus on the impact of installing dated propane carburetion on state-of-the-art gasoline technology vehicles by investigating:

1. 1.
   a “paper” survey of propane carburetion equipment;
2. 2.
   three programs testing propane vehicles for: emissions, fuel consumption and performance; and,
3. 3.
   cost analysis of the two fuels.

To improve vehicle operating efficiency, it was found that better matching of the carburetion to the air-flow requirements of the engine was required.