Keeping the Vehicle Moving — A Practical Study of Identical Vehicles Using Alternative Fuels

A comparison is being undertaken of the performance of five identical vehicles, using alternative fuels, by the Public Works Department of Victoria. The comparison is being made in normal vehicle duty in service, over 60,000 km, and by laboratory testing. Problems encountered in vehicle conversion to alternative fuels, and in installing instrumentation, and in normal operation are described. Laboratory test results of vehicle efficiency and emissions are presented and compared.

The fuels considered are petrol, diesel fuel, Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). An Electric powered vehicle is proposed for this trial and is described. Initial conclusions indicate favourable cost reduction in using LPG or diesel fuel compared with Petrol and CNG.