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Prins Developing New Liquid Lpg Autogas Conversion System

Prins is developing a new liquid lpg autogas conversion system based on its success with Team Aon in the British Touring Car Championships.

Prins will introduce a new liquid lpg autogas conversion system in early 2011 based on the system the company developed for the lpg autogas Ford Focus used by Team Aon in the British Touring Car Championships (BTCC) this year.

Will Putter, global sales at Prins Autogas UK Ltd, said: “The Prins LI liquid injection system has provided the Team Aon car with a better performing and lightweight liquid system, as opposed to a vapour system. You don’t have the complication of vaporising the fuel. “Having it installed in the BTCC car has shown us areas where we can make components lighter and more efficient, and obviously disproves the myth that lpg autogas means lack of power.”

Prins Autogas is also working with Team Aon sponsor Calor Gas to provide conversions for the company’s lpg autogas car fleet, and is offering bespoke direct injection lpg autogas systems.

Will said: “Many manufacturers are now producing direct injection cars and we have a list of bespoke kits developed by Prins, which is growing over time. Our bespoke kits are mainly suitable for four cylinder cars with 1.6 to 2.0 litre engines.”

Prins Autogas is offering a three-year parts and labour warranty covering valve seat damage on new cars bought from the AA.

Will said: “Prins Autogas is the only lpg autogas company offering this service in conjunction with the AA. We approached the AA requesting a product that offered no risk to manufacturers and fleets and, after various approval procedures and the fact that the Financial Services Authority now also approves us, they agreed.

“Fleets want to deal with companies they know and recognise as offering a high quality service. We are the only company the AA want to and will deal with on lpg autogas warranties. It means customers can have peace of mind that they are going to get any claims dealt with by recognised and reputable companies, and it offers them no risk.”

Prins says it is also the only company to have developed a fully multipoint lubrication system. ValveCare is an additive dosing system developed exclusively for Prins systems and suitable for all combustion engines with alternative fuels, such as lpg autogas and cng. ValveCare delivers lubrication fluid into each cylinder evenly to provide the engine with the correct dosage of an additive that prevents premature valve and valve seat wear.

Will said: “This year, over 70 per cent of our conversions essentially required and were fitted with the ValveCare system. Since 2005, manufacturers have been producing engines with cheaper valve seat materials, which is fine for petrol as it has protective additives, but lpg autogas does not, and lpg autogas cars can have problems with valve seat recession.

“The Prins ValveCare system adds the additive that provides protection to each cylinder with equal displacement when using lpg autogas. It pumps the fluid under all loadings of the engine and switches off when the fluid runs out, so you cannot drive on lpg autogas with an empty fluid bottle. It means all cylinders are protected correctly, rather than some cylinders starving the others of fluid from a single point system.”

Prins Autogas UK, along with partner Beaumont Roberts Insurance Brokers, has recently created Auto LPG Vehicle Hire Ltd to offer a commercial lpg autogas vehicle hire facility. Will said: “We’re the only company to offer lpg autogas contract hire on any vehicle. The company’s just started, so its early days, but the reason we created it was because customers have been requesting it.

“At present, we are dealing with two companies who have a combined fleet of 5,000 vehicles that are all on contract hire, so I would call that a good demand! The majority of the vehicles are LCVs, and our customers range from large public service operators to large electrical retailers to small delivery companies. The facility is aimed at all types of companies that run fleets and don’t want the risk or cost of buying vehicles outright, and who want to start saving from the first month.”

Prins Autogas UK has also made its online vehicle database available to its customers. The database was created four years ago to provide traceable vehicle information for the company, its installers and its customers, including whether the vehicle is suitable for lpg autogas conversion, whether it has previously been converted, the tank type used, consumption figures and service history.

Will said: “Whilst Prins is renowned for quality, our customers tend to carry out a lot of research before they convert, therefore they access our database to see if their vehicle has previously been converted then contact us for conversion information and references. We understand UKLPG is now following our plans with a similar system to help the rest of the industry move forward.”

Contact Prins Autogas UK Ltd on 02380 446467/01902 866266 www.prinsautogasuk.co.uk

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