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London Cabbies are a land mark in their own right, renowned for their knowledge of London without a map, they are trusted and well-respected by all passengers. A series of tests and examinations must be passed before anyone can have the title of a London Cabbie. Some Cabbies have converted their black hacks to LPG, setting a standard for the fleet and leading the nation forward in alternative automotive fuels. Black hacks have long run on a reliable diesel engine, which was once seen as the ideal engine with no pollution concerns and cheap fuel. However, as fuel prices have rocketed and emission standards have been introduced, these high mileage vehicles have been put under scrutiny, leaving Cabbies with a dilemma on what to do with their prided black hacks. Benefits of an LPG Taxi London’s main pollutants are Nitric Oxides (NOx) and Particulates (PM10s) with diesel engines producing 0.22g of NOx per km travelled and 0.101g of PM10s per km travelled. LPG engines produce a much lesser number of 0.06g of NOx per km travelled and 0.005g of PM10s per km travelled. Taxis emit 845 tonnes of NOx annually; converting a taxi to LPG would reduce this number up to eight times. The following table outlines the range of emissions produced by a diesel taxi and an LPG taxi.
The measurements show that LPG engines produce much less emissions across the board than diesel run vehicles. In addition, an LPG taxi would reduce oil waste pollution and keep the engine cleaner, extending service intervals to every 12,000 miles. Not only do these emissions meet with the Euro 3 standards, but LPG engines produce 86% less PM10s than the standards specify. Saving the environment is not the only benefit for an LPG converted taxi; there are massive savings to be made from reduced fuel costs. The following table shows the cost of one litre of each fuel type.
Based on these prices, Cabbies could save between 3p and 5p per mile travelled. Converting a taxi to LPG can be seen as an investment, as the savings made in fuel costs are not reflected in fare costs as this is regulated by the Government. Diesel is in a depleting supply, with a rising shortage of diesel refining capacity in Europe, while LPG supply is plentiful and the number of LPG stations has now reached over 120,000 across the UK and still rising. Hong Kong - LPG Taxi Case Study Hong Kong, like most busy cities, has streets filled with taxis, ferrying around one million people daily around the vibrant city. The Hong Kong SAR government initiated a scheme aiming to replace 18,000 diesel taxis with auto gas models by the end of 2005, the target was met and now all HK taxis run on LPG engines. The initiative was tested in 1996, proving again that the Hong Kong market is at the fore front of technology. The success from the 1996 trial lead to factory built LPG taxis being sold rather than the traditional diesel engines. The Government offered a grant to the drivers who purchased LPG taxis between 2000 and 2003 when the scheme was in its initial phase. It is now illegal in Hong Kong to have a diesel taxi on the street with all 18,138 licensed taxis running on LPG. LPG taxis are virtually free of smoke and emit only small level of pollutants, which is why the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) offers support to this initiative. Switching the entire taxi fleet to LPG should reduce particulate emissions 30% estimated by the EPD.Drivers had initial concerns regarding mileage and maintenance requirements; however the trial showed that the performance and service issues were comparable with the previous diesel engine. Safety was another major concern for the drivers, and again the trials showed that LPG taxis were extremely safe even when involved in an accident. LPG Taxis in the UK EAST (Environmental and Sustainable Technology) Journal, together with Nicholson McLaren Engines, and Fuelture Ltd, has combined forces to promote LPG black hacks to the UK. The environmentally friendly taxi is currently visiting Glasgow in a promotional tour. The following table shows a comparison of exhaust emissions between UK Black Taxis running on LPG and Diesel.
The Diesel engine emissions do not meet with the Euro-III standard as these emissions are classed as Euro-IV.
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- Related Article:
- Ten Things You Need to Know Before Converting to LPG
