Bi-fuel vehicle

SAO 09 2008 Fiat Siena TetraFuel 2 views v1

Bi-fuel vehicle

A bi-fuel vehicle is an automobile that can run on two different types of fuel. Typically, these vehicles have two separate fuel systems that enable the engine to operate on either fuel. The most common combinations are gasoline with either compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Bi-fuel vehicles are designed to switch between the two fuel types, either manually or automatically, depending on the system configuration.

Types of Bi-fuel Vehicles

Bi-fuel vehicles can be categorized based on the types of fuel they use:

• Gasoline and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG): These vehicles have a gasoline tank and a CNG tank. The engine can run on either gasoline or CNG, providing flexibility and extended range.
• Gasoline and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG): Similar to the gasoline-CNG combination, these vehicles have separate tanks for gasoline and LPG. The engine can switch between the two fuels.

Advantages

Bi-fuel vehicles offer several advantages:

• Fuel Flexibility: The ability to switch between two types of fuel can be beneficial in areas where one type of fuel is more readily available or cheaper than the other.
• Extended Range: With two fuel tanks, bi-fuel vehicles can travel longer distances without needing to refuel.
• Environmental Benefits: Using alternative fuels like CNG or LPG can result in lower emissions compared to gasoline or diesel, contributing to reduced air pollution.

Disadvantages

Despite their benefits, bi-fuel vehicles also have some drawbacks:

• Initial Cost: The cost of purchasing a bi-fuel vehicle or converting an existing vehicle to bi-fuel can be higher than a single-fuel vehicle.
• Fuel Storage: The additional fuel tank can take up space, reducing the available cargo or passenger space.
• Maintenance: Maintaining two fuel systems can be more complex and costly.

Applications

Bi-fuel vehicles are used in various applications, including:

• Personal Vehicles: Many consumers choose bi-fuel vehicles for personal use to take advantage of the flexibility and potential cost savings.
• Commercial Fleets: Businesses with vehicle fleets may use bi-fuel vehicles to reduce fuel costs and emissions.
• Public Transportation: Some public transportation systems use bi-fuel buses to improve air quality and reduce fuel expenses.

Related Pages

• Alternative fuel vehicle
• Compressed natural gas
• Liquefied petroleum gas
• Hybrid vehicle
• Electric vehicle