Theoretical Background

In a booming economy such as today, transportation of goods is

a necessity to enable the industry to work every day. The workforce
also needs to be transported to their respective offices. For this to be
realized,

several

types

of

day

to

day

transportation

such

as

motorcycles, cars, and trucks are used. This study limits to the use of
cars specifically in public use. A taxi is a vehicle that privately carries
passengers for a metered fare. A taxi is operated by a Spark Ignition
(S.I.) engine and it requires fuel to work. It uses gasoline as its
standard fuel. Taxi companies hire drivers qualified to operate taxi
cabs. The drivers are usually responsible for refilling fuel for their
assigned cab. Gasoline in general is an expensive fuel, this is the
reason why they came up with a way to use liquefied petroleum gas or
LPG as a substitute fuel for their taxi cab with some modification to the
engine. This study aims to determine why taxi cab drivers consider
fuel conversion.
Gasoline or also called petrol is a transparent, petroleum-derived
liquid that is used primarily as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It
consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional
distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives.

On the other hand Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a nonrenewable fossil fuel which is gaseous in normal conditions and turns
to liquid under a certain pressure. LPG is also referred to as simply
propane. Propane was first identified as a volatile component in
gasoline by Walter O. Snelling of the U.S. Bureau of Mines in 1910. It
is produced as a by-product of two other processes, natural gas
processing and petroleum refining. The processing of natural gas
involves removal of butane, propane, and large amounts of ethane
from the raw gas in order to prevent condensation of these volatiles in
natural gas pipelines. Additionally, oil refineries produce some propane
as a by-product of cracking petroleum into gasoline or heating oil.
An autogas company named Go LPG! wrote on the comparison
of gasoline and LPG in terms of performance. They said when running
on Gasoline or Petrol, an optimized conversion using carefully selected
components and professional installation will make no difference to
engine performance when running on petrol. While running on LPG,
the top end of engine performance may be 'clipped' or reduced by a
small amount, typically 5%. In reality, no one drives in the top-end
range very often so this reduction is hardly significant. Also consider
that most cars that use LPG tend to have the large engines. Reduction
of performance at the top end is least noticeable with a larger engine
and so it becomes less of an issue.

LPG has a lower calorific value than petrol (It produces less total
heat and therefore less peak pressure in the cylinder.) Simply put, LPG
gives slightly less energy per fuel injection. LPG is slightly less potent
as an internal combustion engine fuel. The driver will naturally react to
this by stepping the accelarator more to achieve the desired speed or
rate of speed increase (often called acceleration). Thus, more LPG will
be used than when running on petrol.
The actual increase in liquid volume consumed (or decrease in
fuel endurance) varies between 10 and 20%. A mean figure of 15%
increase in fuel volume consumed is a good figure to rely on.
Eric Hahn (N.D.) stated that fuel consumption for LPG is greater
than petrol but it is offset by a much lower price. The reason for the
difference in consumption is the difference in energy content. For
example, unleaded E10 has 31.2Mj/L while Autogas has 26.8Mj/L. This
equates to only about a 14% difference. Some people make wild
claims regarding the comparative fuel consumption of LPG versus
petrol powered vehicles. The only way to compare accurately is using
the identical make, model, year, engine and transmission, with the
only difference being the fuel. This removes all of the other variables
including the human factor, like a light or heavy foot. This can be done
using the info from the Green Vehicle Guide government website.
Selecting the Ford Falcon Petrol versus Ford Falcon LPG, we can

compare fuel consumption data for identical vehicles. This fuel

consumption data is available for all vehicles sold in Australia. The
numbers in these otherwise duplicate vehicles are 9.9L/100km for
Petrol and 12.3L/100km for LPG. So, petrol consumption is only about
20% less in comparison to LPG.
However, LPG is much cheaper than Gasoline. As shown in the
recent price monitoring of the petroleum products here in Cebu
conducted by the Department of Energy, last July 29 2015, unleaded
gasoline price ranges from Php 39.95 Php 42.16 per liter and
Premium gasoline at Php 40.65 Php 44.00 per liter. On the other
hand LPG prices in Cebu city ranges from Php 26.00 Php 27.00 per
liter as stated also on the July 29, 2015 price monitoring. According to
Liu (1992) the running cost of LPG-driven vehicles is lower than petroldriven vehicles in many territories mainly due to lower fuel tax rate on
LPG. Although switching from gasoline to LPG will have a capital cost,
the annual cost is lower than gasoline and can be economical in the
long run.
An article published by the Energy Technology Systems Analysis
Programme (2010) states that bi-fuel LPG cars can reduce greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions by 15% as compared to petrol operation. Natural
Gas (NG) cars can achieve greenhouse gas reductions of up to 25%.
The energy efficiency of engines running on natural gas is generally

equal to that of gasoline engines, but is lower if compared with

modern diesel engines. The conversion costs

for LPG vehicles range

from 1130 to 2740 (10-15% incremental cost). The conversion costs

for light-duty NG vehicles are currently between 1640 and 2190
(10-15% incremental cost). When running on LPG or NG, CO2
emissions are at least 10% or 20% lower, respectively, if compared to
gasoline. Actual emissions depend on the share of mileage run on
petrol.
One of the important factors to be considered when deciding to
retro fit an automobile using LPG kit or not is the running cost for a
LPG vehicle. Performance-wise there is not much difference between a
normal petrol or diesel vehicle and that of a LPG powered vehicle; the
running costs are significantly different.
Though Propane may be cheaper, one gallon of Propane only
contains 73% of the energy in a gallon of Gasoline. Normally if 1 liter
of petrol gives a mileage of 18 kilometers while 1 liter of LPG will
provide a mileage of 16 kilometers. However since on average the cost
of LPG is 30% 35% cheaper compared to Petrol, every kilometer
saves 22% of the amount spent per liter. A significant amount when
are commuting a fair amount of kilometers every day.

In terms of engine maintenance, both fuels have different

intervals of maintaining the engine in order to lengthen the engines
lifespan. It is important to know more about the type of fuel one is
using as a working substance and how it can affect the engine in order
to avoid the damages it can cause and to reduce the degree of
damage.
The range of percentages within which the fuel would burn in air
is called the flammability limit, outside the range, the fuel would not
burn. Of both gasoline and LPG fuels, gasoline has the narrower
flammability limit. Both are considered flammable but gasoline is
easier to combust. In an experimental study of flammability limits of
LPG/air mixtures by Mishra and Rahman (N.D.), the lower flammability
limit of a LPG-air mixture is 1.81% and the upper limit of LPG mixture
is 8.86%. For this reason, general precautions must be considered
such as providing safe parking locations ideally away from sources of
heat or other sources of ignition. A precaution for LPG-driven vehicles
is that LPG when under pressure is gaseous and has a density of 1.7
kg/m3 (engineering toolbox). Air at normal temperature and pressure
has a density of 1.205 kg/m3 (engineering toolbox) thus making LPG
denser. In an enclosed room where there is leaking, LPG will settle at
the bottom due to its higher density. In the annual report on Liquefied
Petroleum Gas (LPG) related accidents by The High Pressure Gas

Safety Institute of Japan (2013) it was shown that the main cause of
LPG accidents is leakage. Leakage of LPG if left for some time causes
fire, explosion or poisoning.
LPG has been widely used in the taxicabs because it is
economically efficient than gasoline and other fuels. Though there is a
slight difference in their power output, taxi cab drivers prefer LPG as a
source of fuel since taxi cabs do not need much power to fuel their taxi
cabs in cities where traffic is a concern. However, LPG power ouput can
increase by adding di-methyl ether (DME) to the fuel composition of
LPG (Bae, C, et al, 2010).
According to www.epa.gov (N.D.), there are three grades of LPG
available as heating fuels: commercial-grade propane, engine fuelgrade propane (also known as HD-5 propane), and commercial-grade
butane. These three grades of LPG have different combustibility, in
order to describe how LPG is being combusted, the general chemically
balance equation in combusting an LPG is:
Propane + Oxygen Carbon Dioxide + Water + Heat
(C3H8 + 5 O2 3 CO2 + 4 H2O + Heat)
In the presence of sufficient oxygen, LPG burns to form water
vapor and carbon dioxide, as well as heat.

According to a company named Technocarb, a spark ignition

engine that runs on propane or LPG has a much longer life compared
to the same spark ignition engine that runs on gasoline. The company
states that the LPG fueled engine can last up to three times longer
than to the gasoline fueled engine. It is also known that propane or
LPG clog the spark engines valves and spark plugs less compared to
when the engine runs on gasoline. This means that the need to change
or repair these parts would be more unlikely and less common
compared to when the engine is running on gasoline.
An article entitled Maintaining Your Natural Gas or Propane
Vehicle by Gable and Christine states that one of the most significant
benefits when using LPG fuel is that it has a cleaner burning
characteristic compared to gasoline. This characteristic causes only a
little release of carbon particles and other products into the motor oil,
which is also known as engine lubricant or engine oil. Since the engine
oil stays relatively cleaner for a longer time, changing oil would be
done less, consequently there would be lesser maintenance of this LPG
fueled spark ignition engine.
LPG-driven vehicles have a slightly lower maintenance cost than
petrol-driven or diesel-driven vehicles. LPG as a gas does not wash
lubricant from the cylinder walls of the engine as gasoline and diesel.
According to Eva, S.Y. & Joseph (1997, p.12) the washing action is

detrimental to any components that rely on the lubrication system for

their proper functioning. The cleaner burning characteristics of LPG
also reduce maintenance requirements and cost.
Health is another important topic to be discussed when dealing
with chemical compounds. A research entitled "Health Consequences
of Using Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as an Alternative Car Fuel in
Gaza Governorates was published by Sirdah and Rahma (2010). The
study used a sample size of 230 taxi drivers of whom 98 used LPG,
112 used diesel fuel, and 20 used gasoline. The drivers were given
questionnaires about technical and descriptive information about cars,
health characteristics, and complaints. The results of the study showed
six common complaints listed by the taxi drivers; poorer health,
headaches, blurred vision, nausea, dyspnea (labored breathing),
depression. In terms of percentage, drivers of diesel-driven taxis had
the highest number of complaints while the drivers who used LPGdriven taxis had the least percentage of complaints.
LPG or Propane is an asphyxiant, which cuts off oxygen to the
body. Exposure to very high concentrations of propane can cause
death by suffocation from lack of oxygen. Exposure to high levels of
propane can cause cardiac arrest, incapacitation, unconsciousness, or
seizures.

Direct

skin

contact

with

liquid

propane

can

cause

frostbite. Exposure to lower levels of propane can cause damage to the

central nervous system, lung congestion, fluid in the lungs, fatigue,

decreased

night

vision,

tunnel

vision,

hallucinations,

dizziness,

lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, headache, euphoria, numbness

and tingling of arms and legs, hyperventilation, rapid heartbeat, poor
judgment,

confusion,

memory

loss,

anorexia,

nosebleeds,

conjunctivitis, weight loss, and skin irritation and discoloration.

According to Liu (1992) LPG is cleaner than petrol and diesel
because

it

is

composed

of

predominantly

simple

hydrocarbon

compounds. Compared to vehicles on Gasoline, LPG fueled vehicles

contain lower levels of hydrocarbon compounds, nitrogen oxides,
sulphur oxides, air toxics, and particulates.
However despite showing promising results on LPGs effects on
health, a study performed by the Rapid Assessment for Monitoring
Exposure Risks in Conventional and Alternative Fuel Use Among the
Public Transport Sector Study and the UP-National Poison Management
and Control Center (UP-NPMCC) in 2012 revealed that drivers who
converted their vehicles engine have raised concerns about their
health. A sample population of 53 taxis (28 LPG units and 25
gasoline/diesel taxis) was used in the study and were tested for
butane, carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen sulphide (H2S) for
ALPG; and total BTEX/HC content, CO, H2S and O2 level for gasoline
and diesel taxis.

The drivers of LPG units have reported to have experienced

headaches, back pain, nape pain, chest pain, cough, dizziness, dry
throat, fatigue and muscle weakness, nausea and difficulty in
breathing after exposure. According to the study, this overexposure
could cause unconsciousness and even death.
Unprofessional modification of the engine to alter fuel from
gasoline to LPG or vice-versa could be a health hazard to the taxi-cab
driver and to its passengers which is why there are authorized
technicians that specialize on LPG vehicles.

References
Eva, L., S.Y., Y., & Joseph, L. (1997)
http://www.go-lpg.co.uk/diffperf.html
http://www.elgas.com.au/blog/690-7-lpg-conversions-myths-autogas
http://www.etsap.org/E-techDS/PDF/T03_LPG-CH4_eng-GS-gctAD.pdf
http://www.elgas.com.au/blog/722-are-lpg-cars-safer-than-petrol
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/gas-density-d_158.html
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/fuels-densities-specific-volumesd_166.html
http://www.khk.or.jp/english/dl/annual_report_lpg_2013.pdf

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/10/17/12/autolpg-exposure-causes-health-risks-%E2%80%93-doh
Mahmoud Sirdah1 and Mohammed A Rahma2, Health Consequences of
Using Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as an Alternative Car Fuel in
Gaza Governorates (2010), 1Faculty of Science, Biology Department, Al
Azhar University, P O Box 1277, Gaza, Palestine; 2Directorate of
Primary Health Care, Palestinian Ministry of Health, Palestine.