Vialle - Autogas Conversions - an Appealing Alternative

By John Aarts, sales support, Vialle Alternative Fuel Systems BV

Drivers are looking for lower costs per mile, and lpg provides a perfect and readily available answer. Yet still a great deal of people hesitate when it comes to converting their vehicles to lpg. Why?

The price of lpg is approximately half that of petrol and diesel, which are both rising quickly. Consequently, lpg is, more and more, an appealing alternative to many owners of new and used vehicles, but some people still hesitate to commit to lpg.

They could think lpg systems will reduce power, or they may associate cheap but often unreliable systems or inferior installation with an abundant stream of technical problems. Luckily, such problems are history when making the right lpg system choice and using a qualified installer. With quality lpg injection systems, such as Vialle’s LPi system, there is no notable difference between driving on petrol or lpg.

The LPi system has many benefits over vaporiser systems - lpg is injected in its liquid phase (no vaporiser is used), and power, traction and acceleration are the same as with petrol. Therefore, the difference between driving on petrol versus lpg is nothing more than persistent prejudice. It also makes fuel control more manageable, resulting in high system reliability and lower emissions.

There are more reasons to convert vehicles using Vialle systems than cost efficiency alone. With LPi there is no risk of backfire, no extra maintenance or calibration work required and the system is not sensitive to environmental factors, such as heat, cold, drought, humidity and altitude. Vialle’s LPi system can also be applied to modern MPFI engines, including lean burn, compressor or turbo charged engines with or without E-OBD technology and with either manual or automatic gearboxes.

Vialle is currently testing LPi for direct petrol injected engines. This technology will be ready for commercial sale by the end of 2008.

The UK still has a small share (150,000) of the total number of vehicles operating on lpg but, worldwide, the number of lpg vehicles is growing rapidly, supported by the search for alternative fuels. It can be expected that this will happen in the UK as well, with over 1,400 lpg refuelling stations throughout the country.

Converted vehicles can still use the petrol mode when running out of lpg fuel, and can switch fuels via a fuel selector on the dashboard. Modern systems, like the Vialle LPi system, switch the engine automatically to petrol once the lpg tank is nearly empty and warn the driver with an audible alert.

Subaru UK Ltd recognised all of these advantages and, together with Vialle in the Netherlands, developed a range of Subaru cars operating on lpg using the LPi system technology. Millbrook Proving Ground Ltd carries out the conversions prior to delivery, and the lpg tank is incorporated into the spare wheel well, avoiding loss of baggage space.
Vialle’s extensive and proven cooperation with the automotive industry was one of the reasons why Subaru chose Vialle’s technology for its Legacy, Outback, Forester and Tribeca models. So far, nearly 200 Subaru vehicles have been converted using LPi.

Vialle offers dedicated kits designed, tested and factory calibrated per brand and type of vehicle. This ensures optimal drivability and performance on lpg. A wide range of four and six-cylinder LPi kits are available for the retrofit market in the UK and an eight-cylinder kit is in development.
Vialle is currently seeking UK distributors, preferably with an existing network of installers.

Pictured Above: Subaru Outback. - Vialle offers dedicated kits designed for each motor brand.

Contact Vialle on +31 402 663663 www.vialle.nl

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