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ViaMichelin Le Mag

LPG or CNG: what is the difference?

LPG or CNG: what is the difference?

The quest for clean fuels is becoming an ecological necessity. In this context, there has been a genuine interest in LPG and CNG. What is the difference between the two? What are their advantages and disadvantages? ViaMichelin provides some answers.

LPG: advantages and disadvantages

LPG, or Liquid Petroleum Gas, is a mixture of two gases: butane and propane. Also known as LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) or LPG-c, LPG is a fuel with many advantages:

  • Significant savings: about 50% cheaper than petrol
  • Reduced impact on global warming: fewer CO₂ and nitrogen oxide emissions
  • Less air pollution: no fine particles
  • Reduced engine maintenance
  • A longer range, thanks to the dual-fuel system generally used in LPG vehicles

 

However, running on LPG requires a technical adaptation of the vehicle, which is relatively expensive. LPG is set to be phased out in the UK within the next few years and replaced with EV charging points.

CNG: advantages and disadvantages

Green natural gas for vehicles, or CNG, is a renewable gas that is produced by a methanisation process. It has been considered a fuel of the future because of its advantages over petrol and diesel:

  • Savings of 20 to 30% per litre compared to diesel
  • It generates much less CO₂ than a conventional engine
  • Fewer emissions of nitrogen oxide and fine particles

 

However, CNG is hampered by a lack of infrastructure. There are just 13 filling stations in the UK where CNG is available.

LPG and CNG are ecological and economical fuels that are not widely used. Without economic incentives, this situation is unlikely to change in the UK.

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