Calcutta to Phase Out Diesel Taxis for LPG
23 January 2005
The Telegraph. In a bid to clean up Calcutta’s air, the West Bengal state government is planning to phase out diesel taxis and replace them with cars operating on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
“We’ve told taxi unions that the government plans to phase out diesel taxis to clean Calcutta’s air. For this, we have to convert diesel models into LPG-run vehicles, the way Delhi had switched to CNG,” said Hridyesh Mohan, transport joint secretary and director, public vehicles directorate (PVD), on Sunday.
The PVD is now issuing permits only to LPG-run taxis. “Even in cases where old taxis are replaced with new ones, only LPG-run vehicles will be okayed,” Mohan added.
Only 15 to 20 per cent of the 34,000-plus taxis operating in the Calcutta Metropolitan Area (CMA)—that too, mostly of recent make—comply with the emission norms prescribed by the Centre.
West Bengal is the fourth-most populous state in India, with 80.2 million people. The Calcutta (Kolkata) Metropolitan Area has, as of the 2001 census, 15 million residents.
Excuse my ignorance, but can diesel engines run on CNG? For some reason I thought it was just gasoline engines that could be converted to CNG. Secondly, how does biodiesel stack up against CNG for CO, PM, NOx etc? Biodiesel is certainly better on CO2, no?
John
Posted by: John Norris | 24 January 2005 at 03:25 AM
Calcutta is shifting taxis to LPG, not CNG—there is a difference. CNG is basically methane (CH4); LPG is a mixture of propane (C3H8) with butane (C4H10).
That said, a diesel can be converted to use either CNG or LPG, the catch being that a conversion will be a dual-fuel solution. A small amount of diesel is used to provide the compression combustion that ignites the gas.
I believe that in this particular instance (Calcutta), the government is pushing for the purchase of new LPG taxis, while the Taxi Drivers Associationis arguing for the ability to convert older diesels.
On the emissions question, I can’t publish a chart in the comment section, so I’ll deal with it in more detail in a subsequent post.
Very broadly speaking:
Biodiesel use produces less CO than CNG, which produces less than LPG.
Biodiesel use produces more PM (especially in a blend) than LPG, which produces more PM than CNG.
Biodiesel use produces more NOx than LPG, which produces more than CNG.
Biodiesel use produces much less CO2 than either of the gases, plus it is a closed carbon cycle.
Some of these effects can be dealt with through additional systems (particulate filters, NOx adsorbers, etc.).
Posted by: Mike | 24 January 2005 at 07:59 AM
Oops, it is LPG not CNG. Too bad diesel conversions still need to start on dino-diesel - old engines seem to be at their worst when starting. Thanks for the comparison info Mike!
John
Posted by: John Norris | 24 January 2005 at 11:57 AM
Hi sir/mdm,
We are a Singapore company and would like to acquire CNG/LPG conversion kits for Diesel and gasoline engines. Mainly for trucks and buses. we would also like to know if there're used CNG engines for trucks and buses. Please send us some information for the above enquiries.
Thank you, have a nice day.
Chester, Jotech Engineering.
Posted by: Chester | 16 August 2005 at 03:28 AM
Dear Mr. Mike,
We are the great national company who specilized in LPG of Vietnam. We sell LPG and all equipments + service related to LPG. We are working also for the Government,eg. to give out the Vietnam Standards for LPG.
We are very interested in the green car congress and we hope to receive many of your information.
We are trying to make and test our autogas car in Vietnam, firstly with taxies.
1. But when we run by LPG, the turbo and engine may be durtier because of black glue that can not remove easily as when we run by petrol.
2. When installed the LPG converter, our car use more consumption when switching to run by petrol.
3. We meet many difficulties with the dispensing systems. Some time we can not find out why we have a great loss number of LPG.
Our Government is very interested in green car project that converting and using the LPG/biogasoline/biodiesel cars+busses+taxies in our cities. This is also our dream.
These are some reasons for my question: How can we have more information about your autogas car project? And can we join in and contribute our informations and ideas?
Hope to receive your reply.
Thank you.
HONG
Gas Petrolimex Company
775 Giai Phong, Hanoi, Vietnam
+84989186964
[email protected]
www.pgas.com.vn
Posted by: Hong | 21 September 2005 at 12:25 AM
Dear Sir
We are intrested in taking an agency to convert Diesel vehicas to LPG. Wehave a manufacturing base in Bangalore and Marketing Offices in Delhi, Hydrabadand Bangalore.
We intend setting up conversion Centers on Franchisie Basis on All India Level.
Kindly give us the Contacts of Compnies manufacturing LPG kits only, as we have a tie up in India with a cylinder manufacturing with ISO certificatoin.
Thanking You
MUKESH CHETAN
Posted by: MUKESH CHETAN | 02 November 2005 at 09:47 PM
actuallly this our project to convert diesel engine into cng so please give me some help
nasim akhter
diploma in engineering (mechanical)
aligarh muslim university
aligarh up india
Posted by: nasim akhter | 16 December 2005 at 10:14 PM
please give some sugggestion s tome so that i can get help from your site HOW TO CONVERT DIESEL ENGINE INTO CNG
Posted by: nasim akhter | 16 December 2005 at 10:27 PM
Hi, Im Michelle Lao from the Philippines. I would like to import LPG converter from disiel and gas. Please email me all information that I need. Philippine Market is starting to realize the benifit of this technology.\
Michelle Lao
[email protected]
Posted by: Michelle Lao | 27 April 2006 at 11:16 PM
hello , sir please you send me some informatian diesel vehcile convert to cng please you mail me informatian this is posibale? i have 4 cng pumps in pakistan and cng fiting work shops in pakistan please you fast inform and reply me . thanks.
Posted by: imran ali | 17 May 2006 at 09:16 AM
I need to know who sell the diesel cng kits , at what price and quantity?
Posted by: Mirza Bashir | 20 August 2006 at 02:30 AM
Please let me know if I can convert Disel Engine Ford Fiesta to LPG Also provide me the information who is the supplier of authorised kit
Posted by: Rakesh Thampi | 10 July 2007 at 06:51 AM
sir/ madam ,
I am 29 years old guy service in Adani Energy limited (CNG & PNG) in finance and accounts department at Lucknow.
I want to know about CNG company address or website in kolkata for working in the same post or else because i want to back in home town which is in Kolkata. kindly please reply me as soon as possible its so urgent for me in my Email ID i.e. [email protected] / [email protected].
thank you
Posted by: Sagar Sen | 19 February 2008 at 11:53 PM
sir/ madam ,
I am 29 years old guy service in Adani Energy limited (CNG & PNG) in finance and accounts department at Lucknow.
I want to know about CNG company address or website in kolkata for working in the same post or else because i want to back in home town which is in Kolkata. kindly please reply me as soon as possible its so urgent for me in my Email ID i.e. [email protected] / [email protected].
thank you
Posted by: Sagar Sen | 19 February 2008 at 11:55 PM
hello,
I am from Bosnia, I would like to find conversion kits for converting diesel vehicles.
(it would be dual-fuel,combination of diesel and lpg
or dedicated kits,after conversion engine can just run on a lpg)
please, if someone can help me please answer
best regards
Eldin
[email protected]
Posted by: Eldin | 12 March 2008 at 06:17 AM
Hi,
I'm wondering if i can get more information and price on your lpg converter for cars ,and diesel Trucks
and how difficult of the installation.
Do you have a comparatives chart between LPG and other fuel
Thanks
Posted by: Johny | 06 June 2008 at 06:35 PM
Hi, Im Cesario Nazario from the Philippines and presently resides here in Canada. I would like to find conversion kits for converting diesel vehicles or dedicated kits from diesel and gas to powered LPG engine. Please provide me all information (supplier/dealer) that I need.
thanks my email: [email protected]
Posted by: Cesario Nazario | 14 June 2008 at 02:09 PM
Hi,
I'm from Malaysia and wondering if i can get more information and price on your lpg converter for diesel trucks and kubota,which used in farmming and plantation(palmoil/paddy field) and how difficult of the installation?. Do you have a comparatives chart between LPG and other fuel.
Thanks
Posted by: Safian Abdin | 18 June 2008 at 07:30 PM