Agenda Packets - 1984/02/27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-3- B. Disadvantages (coat.) 2. Limited Range. Because of the lack of propane service stations in parts of the state and country, straight propane vehicles call have a limited range. 3. Acceleration Loss. Dual fuel powered vehicles have a slight reduction in acceleration and top -end vehicle speed as compared to gasoline because the engine cannot be properly tuned to run on both propane and gasoline. A. Finicky Performance. Propane powered engines tend to be more finicky than gasoline, thus, requiring greater attention to maintenance. 5. Additional Weight. On a straight propane system an addi- tional 150 lbs. is added to the vehicle weight which can be an important factor on some vehicles. Once all of the advantages and disadvantages are weighed, the financial aspects of propane conversion needs to be considered. The cost of conversion varies depending upon vehicle type and engine size and if the conversion is contracted out or done in-house. Basically, it can be said that a conversion costs between $1,000 and $1,500. In determining the financial feasibility of conversion one needs to compare the cost of gasoline consumption versus propane consumption and the paybac)c period for a conversion. The average payback period for a private auto being driven 10,000 miles per year is 11 years (Appendix A), whereas, a fleet of five vehicles, each being driven 30,000 miles per year, has a payback of two years (Appendix B). In each case consideration was not given to reduced maintenance costs. Appendix C .is a chart provided by the National LP Gas Association showing the possible savings in using propane. The final factor to be considered when deciding to convert to propane is whether to use a straight propane or dual fuel system. The advantages and disadvantages for each, in addition to the advantages and disadvantages of propane as already listed, are: A. Straight Propane System 1. Advantages - a. No Fuel Pump. When using a straight propane system the fuel pump can be eliminated. b. Reduced Carburetor Maintenance. A straight propane carburetor is a simpler mechanism requiring minimal maintenance.