LPG Cobra

[Big Thirsty]

It seems that gas has not been pushed by the government to it's full potential, otherwise, we would see more pumps at stations. I have a feeling that it will start to dissapear from some stations, as seems to be happening in Southern Ireland at the moment.

It looks like bioethanol is going to be the new fuel, as companies are investing huge amounts into this technology. Apart from the fact that surplus grain is being diverted from the hungry to make this new fuel, it seems to tick all the right boxes. For example, we can still use the internal combustion engine and not be so dependent upon oil.

One thing is for certain: Whatever new fuel they come up with, it will still be taxed like it is today.

[Dutch Paul]

Originally Posted by Big Thirsty

..........One thing is for certain: Whatever new fuel they come up with, it will still be taxed like it is today.

Not if you can make it yourself.

[craggle]

In the UK, If you do make your own fuel you are supposed to declare this to the tax man so they can charge you for it! Even running your diesel engine on vegetable oil is illegal if you use it on the road.
Bastards

Craig.

[Dutch Paul]

Originally Posted by craggle

In the UK, If you do make your own fuel you are supposed to declare this to the tax man so they can charge you for it! Even running your diesel engine on vegetable oil is illegal if you use it on the road.
Bastards

Craig.

As I understood it in the UK you only had to "declare" how much you used and pay duty on it?
I also thought the rules had recently been relaxed a little more to allow 2000(?) litres of DIY veggie diesel per person per year free of duty?

[craggle]

You may well be right Paul. I haven't really looked in to it recently as we sold our only diesel vehicle last summer.

Ethanol sounds like fun though. How do you make it?

Craig.

[Purple AK]

Originally Posted by Dutch Paul

As I understood it in the UK you only had to "declare" how much you used and pay duty on it?
I also thought the rules had recently been relaxed a little more to allow 2000(?) litres of DIY veggie diesel per person per year free of duty?

2500 litres I think Bio on the pumps is now only 10p a litre less than Fossil Diesel!! Pure Veggie is the way forward 48p a litre from cash & carry

[Dutch Paul]

Originally Posted by craggle

You may well be right Paul. I haven't really looked in to it recently as we sold our only diesel vehicle last summer.

Ethanol sounds like fun though. How do you make it?

Craig.

Read this........

http://running_on_alcohol.tripod.com/index.html

It is just one of many sites promoting DIY ethanol as a fuel. Whether it is cost effective or not needs more investigation. You need some form of heating(usually electrical) in the process plus the set up costs, grain(or other suitable crop) etc.
It`s also debatable whether there are many engines that will happily run on it neat without mixing with petrol.
I think it will possibly become the next DIY veggie oil type craze to come in the future.
It seems like the old moonshine stills will start to reappear if the price of fuel keeps increasing.

The company I work for are the world`s largest producer of ethanol from grain (in the US). Sadly I have no contact with the ethanol factories - we work with soya and rape seed oil over here.

[Naumoff]

In the US propane prices are all over the place. I do contract work for Suburban Propane.
My whole house runs on propane for all of my heating needs.
Price depends on volume purchase. For my house it runs $2.80 US per US gallon. I have a 500 gallon US storage tank.

If you have a small tank and maybe only cook with gas you are paying $4.00+ US.

This is with no road taxes. Propane from reports I have heard from Suburban Propane does not give you the fuel economy that petrol does.

Maybe with the modern fuel injected vehicles and the computer control it is possible to get the same fuel mileage.
Companies in the US with large vehicle fleets have to have a percent of there vehicles with alternate fuels.
Suburban use to run a lot of there trucks on propane but went back to diesel and petrol.
What does that tell you?

We can't even bring the diesel infer structure up to par here and diesel pick-up trucks for the everyday average guy has been very popular for over 10 years. The cost of diesel here has jump $1.75 US in one year and is the most heavily taxed fuel. It is now $4.25 US per US gallon.

I know, I know that our prices are way below what you poor blokes have been paying for years but for us it is to much to fast. It kills your budgets and the price of everything is sky rocketing.

[dingocooke]

interesting perspective on life across the pond Tony; Id still swap you your $4.25 gallon for our £5.50 odd ($10.50).............our wonderful government tax gas iro 85p in the pound (85%)

[kevchard]

Originally Posted by craggle

Looks a good kit for the price.

My Range rover seems to do the same miles per gallon on petrol or gas so running costs on that are about half price. Well worth doing if you intend to keep the car a while or do high millage.

Don't think my Cobra does the millage to justify the conversion though.

Let us know how it goes when you get it fitted.

Craig.

Hi Craig
It turned up on next day delivery (yesterday). Bog all instructions, but got some from the manufacturer 'KWE' on their website.
I am starting on it this weekend with a big mallet to modify spare tyre hole for heavy b#####d 60 litre tank.
The software looks akin to the megasquirt stuff, where you scream up and down the road for it to learn your cars characteristics.
Give me a month with all other bits of stuff i have to do and it may be up and running. Supplier of kit recons he can do a Mondy in 1 day (not sure how long his days are tho).
Cheers
Kevin
PS makes a nice change there were no hidden costs, only extra bit needed not with kit is 4.5mm drill, 6mm tap, pipe flaring kit and £30 programming lead.