Differences between LPG and CNG. The doubts are over!

You may be considering buying a new car soon. Do you need a car with an Eco label to get to the city center but you are not interested in hybrid models? Probably the best option for you is to opt for a LPG or CNG car. They are the new Alternative fuels, which also stand out for their efficiency and low cost.

CNG and LPG vehicles are a very important alternative to consider. They can run on both gasoline and one of these two fuels. By the way, the price of these two fuels is much lower to that of gasoline or diesel, and they are also much less polluting. They also benefit from important tax advantages, such as less taxes or discounts in regulated parking lots.

What is LPG?

LPG is Liquefied Petroleum Gas. It is a butane and propane mixture, drawing from oil. It can be extracted directly from the oil wells and also in the refining processes of the oil itself. In the past, LPG was already used in many taxis, equipping a cylinder (which went in the trunk) and a basic circuit.

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All about LPG: What is it? Worth? What cars use it?

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What is CNG?

For its part, CNG is Compressed Natural Gas. Basically it is the same gas that is currently used in the majority of heating in our homes. It is also obtained from bags in the ground, but they are different from those of oil. CNG is mainly made up of methane.

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What is CNG

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LPG and CNG engines

In cars, both LPG and CNG vehicles they resort to “gasoline” engines. LPG is not compatible with diesel mechanics. Diesel vehicles can be adapted to CNG, but the cost is very high and that is why we do not see CNG diesel cars. However, in large industrial vehicles, trucks or buses, you can compensate for the adaptation so that your diesel mechanics also use CNG as fuel.

Actually, they should not be called “gasoline engines”, but “Otto cycle engines”.

Going back to cars, as we said, they have to be gasoline engines. The regulations say that must be at least Euro3, that is, from 2001 onwards. Best of all, it can be used in modest cars with contained engine capacities and also in powerful high-capacity models. In this way, you can have LPG or CNG in both a Dacia Sandero and a Ford Mustang V8.

LPG and CNG prices

Both LPG and CNG are subsidized fuels. Therefore, among other things, they are considerably cheaper than gasoline and diesel. At the beginning of the year 2020, LPG was around 0.70 euros per liter; while CNG was a little more expensive, around 0.85 liters. For its part, gasoline cost approximately 1.32 euros per liter, with diesel having a price of approximately 1.25 euros per liter.

New cars with LPG and CNG

We currently find more cars on the market with LPG than with CNG, although it seems that the trend is changing little by little. Liquefied Petroleum Gas is more widespread in Europe and Spain than Compressed Natural Gas. However, it is also true that the Volkswagen Group is launching several models with CNG versions, which is making this fuel known and increasing its sales.

With LPG

There are several car brands that offer us their vehicles adapted to LPG directly when we buy it new from the dealer. Dacia It has a wide range, with Duster, Sander, Logan and Lodgy available with LPG. Fiat offers the Panda, while in Ford we have the Fiesta.

Opel He had bet heavily on LPG years ago, but it is gradually deflating and now he only offers the Crossland X. For his part, Renault offers a 100hp engine with LPG in the new Clio and Captur. We also see several LPG models in Subaru, like the XV, the Outback, the Levorg or the Impreza. To top it off, we found that SsangYong Spain sells XLV with LPG, a product that has been in great demand in the taxi sector in Madrid; although it is practically discontinued.

With CNG

Fewer are the options with CNG. Virtually only the Volkswagen Group offers passenger cars with this fuel. Thus, we find the Audi A3 Sportback and A4 Avant, the Seat Ibiza, Arona and León. In the case of Skoda we can acquire the Scala, Kamiq and Octavia; Meanwhile in Volkswagen Future incorporations are expected. To all these VAG models we must add the Fiat panda.

Difference in consumption between LPG and CNG

It is difficult to know what is the difference in actual consumption between an LPG vehicle and an identical one equipped with CNG. Currently the only model for sale that can be purchased from the dealer with both autogas and natural gas is the Fiat Panda, but it uses different engines. For the LPG it uses a 69 HP 1.2 turbo-free mechanism and for the CNG it equips the 80 HP 0.9 TwinAir.

It is understood that both LPG and CNG cars they spend a little more than when they use gasoline. However, it is true that this efficiency has been polished and they are increasingly more similar to their gasoline counterparts. Remember that currently we are talking about just 10% more.

Are LPG and CNG cars hybrid?

Surely you have wondered if a LPG or CNG car is a hybrid vehicle. And is that some car brands have been a bit caught to capture customer attention, that is, it is marketing. Is it a hybrid car? Well, as a general rule when we refer to a car with the word hybrid, we all have associated that it is a gasoline or diesel car with an electric motor.

In any case, I think that if brands want to attract attention it would be more moral to use terms like bi-fuel or bi-fuel.

Which is better, gas or diesel?

Finally, it is time to ask yourself which is better, a diesel or gas car. It all depends on the situation and needs of each client. From my point of view, gas cars, both CNG and LPG, only make sense if we have at least one gas station near our home that allows us to refuel that gas.

In addition, if we make many long journeys -travels- it is probably better to opt for diesel. Trust me; I have traveled with CNG cars (with little gasoline autonomy) and the route must be prepared, especially if we have to travel on a Sunday through sparsely populated areas, since many service stations close.

It is true that gas, especially CNG, is a very environmentally friendly fuel. LPG as well, but less than CNG. But it is no less true that state-of-the-art diesel engines are much cleaner than ten or fifteen years ago. They have nothing to do with it.

LPG gas stations map

CNG gas stations map

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