Bi-fuel Prius II CNG on Display in Geneva
01 March 2006
 |
| The Prius II CNG |
Two West Swiss natural gas companies—Holdigaz SA and Gaznat SA—have retrofit a stock Toyota Prius with a natural gas fuel system. The resulting bi-fuel Prius II CNG is on display at the Geneva auto show.
The companies preserved the original engine, but adapted the fuel injection system to handle natural gas as well. The Prius II CNG retains its original 1.5-liter and 11.9-gallon gasoline tank. The retrofitters added two 22-liter natural gas storage tanks, with a capacity of 4.5 kg each.
 |
| The gas tanks in the Prius II CNG. |
The gas tanks sit in the area formerly occupied by the spare wheel. The tanks and other natural gas gear add approximately 60 kg (132 pounds) to the weight of the vehicle. The addition of 9 kg of natural gas extends the Prius’ range by about 250 to 300 km (155 to 186 miles).
With all power sources combined (gasoline, CNG and electric), the Prius CNG has a range of about 1,300 km (808 miles). The motivation behind the conversion, though, was not range extension but rather a demonstration of lowered CO2 emissions.
When operating on natural gas, the Prius reduces its carbon dioxide emissions from 104 g/km to only 92 g/km.
The conversion cost 6,500 Swiss francs (about US$5,000).
| Bivalent Prius II CNG Engine Performance | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Gasoline | Natural Gas | |
| Max power | 57 kW (76 hp) | 52 kW (70 hp) | |
| Torque | 115 Nm | 110 Nm | |
| Fuel consumption (comb.) | 4.3 l/100km | 3.4 kg/100km | |
| CO2 | 104 | 92 | |
Resources:
Toyota Prius II Erdgas data sheet (German)
Be interesting to know how expensive/complicated the modification was. Is the Prius computer able to "sense" the CNG?
Posted by: sae | 01 March 2006 at 04:58 AM
6,500 Swiss Francs, or about US$5K
Posted by: Mike | 01 March 2006 at 06:48 AM
how did they implement switching fuels? can you do it manually, or does it first try to use CNG and then revert to regular gasoline when that runs out?
it'd be interesting if, say, toyota implemented this. however, as far as i can tell, they are not into CNG at all, so i guess that's not about to happen.
Posted by: lensovet | 01 March 2006 at 11:30 AM
I wouldn't want to be rear-ended with the tanks that close to the bumper.
Posted by: LochDhu | 01 March 2006 at 11:54 AM
The perfect Weapon of Mass Destruction.
I can see it now in a crash.
The high voltage damage touches off a hydrogen explosion which then ignites the gasoline.
Beware first responders....
Posted by: Thomas | 01 March 2006 at 01:03 PM
Um... as far as I can tell, there is no hydrogen in this car.
But to follow up on your line of reasoning...
What's to prevent the existing gasoline tank from springing a leak in a crash and getting touched-off by a high voltage spark? Or a low-voltage spark from a conventional car's electrical system?
The only thing preventing that is good tank design, as the Pinto fiasco taught us years ago. In the case of the Prius, good high-voltage system design helps as well. Any system that carries around as much stored energy as a fully fueled passenger automobile is naturally dangerous if not designed properly, both for day-to-day operations as well as crash-survivability.
If the Prius, or some other hybrid, were ever to go CNG, its tanks would have to be as robust and well designed as current automotive gas and CNG tanks. We've dealt with these problems for years already, and live with the risks every day.
Each time you drive your conventional car, you're sitting on top of two dozen Molotov cocktails, and each time you board a CNG-fired bus, you're sitting underneath two dozen Weber grills. Each time you change a fuse you're coming a dozen times closer to several Priuses worth of electricity than you are when you drive one, and every time you take the subway you're that much closer to an unshielded third rail that could power a hundred electric cars.
I don't need to tell you to get over it, because unless you spend your entire life holed up in your basement (more likely to be exposed to radon down there than up here at grade level) you already have gotten over it. Pointing out that designs need to account for the safety of the occupants as well as the safety of the rescue squad is good sense. Irrational fear-mongering is, by contrast, decidedly unproductive.
Posted by: NBK-Boston | 01 March 2006 at 01:27 PM
I think it would be better to concentrate on improving the efficiency and capacity of the batteries presently being used so as to accomodate plug in recharging. Nothing is wrong with CNG implemntation. In fact, it is worth serious consideration in light of the potential spike and inevitable rise in oil prices. As it is now, the cost of petrol is much higher in European countries than in the US. We have to look at all possibilities for transportation and CNG applied to the Prius is definitely a workable possibility.
[email protected]
Posted by: Adrian Akau | 01 March 2006 at 04:07 PM
CNG should be about 50% of the gasoline price, which is a big saving! 3.4 kg/100km is very impressive numbers, i recall that a local taxi driver told me that their taxi only go 100km+ on a 12kg tank.
With a 250km+ range this car can suit everyone's needs.
There is a manual switch to gasoline/CNG on board, or it will automatically switch to gasoline when CNG ran out.
Posted by: rexis | 01 March 2006 at 04:58 PM
From the developer: The vehicle does not switch automatically from gasoline to CNG; the driver makes the switch manually. The car does switch automatically from natural gas to gasoline. The switch also contains a fuel gauge for the natural gas: four green LEDs and one red.
Posted by: Mike | 02 March 2006 at 06:29 AM
So what happens if you get a flat tire? I like the concept of a 800+ mile range hybrid, but what about storage? If you are traveling that far you might need a change of clothes and maybe a toothbrush.
Posted by: Redeft | 03 March 2006 at 05:01 AM
Dual-fuel systems are only required while a distribution infrastructure is being set up for CNG. This is happening in several European countries but obviously it is a chicken-and-egg proposition. Germany has guaranteed low CNG taxes through 2020 (may get cut back to 2016). In line with an EU directive, CNG might actually be a blend of mostly natural gas and a little biogas by then.
The medium-term development objective is a pure CNG vehicle whose spark ignition engine will support a compression ration of 14 (CNG has a high knock limit), lean operation at low loads (CNG will ignite up to lambda=4) and an SCR system to clean up the NOx. It will feature composite tanks that get filled up to 300 bar. Down the road, CNG could even be stored in specially designed sealed chassis cavities to further reduce weight and increase range.
Crash safety can be high, e.g. when you install the tanks underneath a raised passenger compartment (e.g. Mercedes A & B-Class, Opel Zafira). Today's steel CNG tanks have burst pressures of 600 bar and melt fuses to relieve excess pressure build-up in a controlled way in case of a severe vehicle fire. Note that tanks for liquid fuels are no safer (and perhaps less so) in this scenario.
You can eliminate the bulk and weight of the spare tire if you use run-flats. Those are safer and more convenient, but less comfortable and more expensive.
Posted by: Rafael Seidl | 03 March 2006 at 02:15 PM
A CNG Prius can also run on the Syngas produced in one step from biomass or coal gasification, thus a potential for petroleum independence. In contrast, synthesis of liquid fuel from coal or biomass, or production of ethanol must undergo several synthetic steps making the liquid fuels more expensive and less efficient. This is perhaps the most important of the CNG Prius not mentioned in the article.
Posted by: Roger Pham | 07 March 2006 at 08:05 PM
Dear Sir,
Welcome you to visit our company!!
We,Chengdu Tianchen Compressors Manufacturing Co.,Ltd is a yang and mature, steady and energetic new-type enterprise with more than four decades experience in designing and manufacturing various larger and medium-sized piston compressors which make combination with scientific research,development and production & management. Our company has a team of senior engineers who have rich practical experiences and master current advanced technology on design and manufacturing of compressors in the world.It specializes in development and production of various piston compressors and gas (CH4,NH3,CO2,O2,H2,etc) process compressors, natural gas compressors and completed equipments for CNG filling station!
The company makes uses of self-supplied patent technology to design and develop natural gas compressors with advance technical performance , high energy saving, high oil saving and reliable operation for CNG Filling Station, it has been highly favoured by the users. Our products have covered all over the country and earned trust and favourable comments from clients
The production base has a well-trained technical staff,and has been very well equipped with perfect advanced manufacturing, metering and inspecting equipments,and has established a complete quality control system,so that its product quality is very steady and trustworthy. Our company operates, make effective control of process and insist on persistent improvement strictly according to ISO9001:2000 quality management system standard so as to guarantee high quality of products.
We hold management policy of “Fidelity, innovation, prosperity”,live faithfully,keep faith and truth with friends, and faithful business; Idea innovation, technology innovation, management innovation; Steady Development for mutual benefits and win-win outcomes.
To be higher and better is our forever goal! With high-class technology, quality and service, we pursues higher goal continuously and exceed craft brother, we are striding forward with full of hope and good prospect.
You can contact us without any hesitation if you are interested in cng equipments business & compressors business.
Looking forward to your reply early!
Best regards,
David
Chengdu Tianchen Compressors Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Tel: 0086 28 87345559
Fax: 0086 28 87366675
e-mail: [email protected]
Posted by: David | 07 April 2006 at 07:19 AM
Dear Mr.
How are you !
Thank you for your letter.
First of all, you are kindly introduced that our Chongqing Big Science & Technology Development(Group) Co., Ltd is a professional manufacturer and supplier who is devoted to research and develop high quality CNG series 2 & 3 & 4 wheels vehicles for market through its base of Chongqing China.
Currently, we are doing manufacture and supplying our these new type high quality CNG 2 wheels motorcycle,which is our Patent products to your market:
We are top professional CNG products manufacturer and supplier in China.
We recommend our patent products which BGMT brand CNG motorcycle with CKD term and CBU term.
For the CNG 2 wheel motorcycle characteristic:
1, Safety and Reliablity:
CNG Cylinder had passed NZ5454, which can bear 350 KG atmospheric pressure, Nominal working pressure is 20 MPa. Manufacture stardand of CNG conversion kit is ISO15500, our patent has unique technology wordwide,
2, Applicability:
CNG motorcycle can run 100km if you once fill the gas fully,the CNG motorcycle shape like fashionable model(such as CD 70 type ,CG 125 type and Tailand Honda) it is very beautiful and very suitable for local custom. The new technology have very capacious foreground, it can bring you very infinite business chance,and we have no agent until now,we are searching our best nice business partner,hope we can cooperate with you and set up long term business relation.
For the target of us above, we are currently looking for the good business and professional partner to promote our these CNG 2 wheels motorcycle very well also target for assembling them locally for ensureing large order quantity and profit for two sides.
Of course, your background and position of business line has been our preferred one of them. so, it will be much appreciating for us to get any advice from your side promptly.
Looking forward to your reply soon!
Thanks
(For the avoidance letter be lost,When you reply our letter, suggest write back to three E-mail box at the same time.)
E-mail : [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected]
Mr.Weilin Lee
China Chongqing Big (Group) Co. Ltd
(branch No.4 )BIG CNG Compressor Manufacture factory
(branch No.5 )Chuanjiang automobile Manufacture factory
Chongqing Big Science & Technology Development Co. Ltd (Big Group I/E Dept. )
Telephone: +86-23-67635049 ;+86-23-67635035 -(operate)- 605;(office)
Fax:+86-23-67635036; MSN: [email protected]
http://www.chinacngbus.com
http://www.made-in-china.com/product.do?action=list&prodLibFlag=0010
Http://www.china-cng.net
Posted by: weilin lee | 24 February 2007 at 11:34 PM
Dear Mr.
How are you !
Thank you for your letter.
First of all, you are kindly introduced that our Chongqing Big Science & Technology Development(Group) Co., Ltd is a professional manufacturer and supplier who is devoted to research and develop high quality CNG series 2 & 3 & 4 wheels vehicles for market through its base of Chongqing China.
Currently, we are doing manufacture and supplying our these new type high quality CNG 2 wheels motorcycle,which is our Patent products to your market:
We are top professional CNG products manufacturer and supplier in China.
We recommend our patent products which BGMT brand CNG motorcycle with CKD term and CBU term.
For the CNG 2 wheel motorcycle characteristic:
1, Safety and Reliablity:
CNG Cylinder had passed NZ5454, which can bear 350 KG atmospheric pressure, Nominal working pressure is 20 MPa. Manufacture stardand of CNG conversion kit is ISO15500, our patent has unique technology wordwide,
2, Applicability:
CNG motorcycle can run 100km if you once fill the gas fully,the CNG motorcycle shape like fashionable model(such as CD 70 type ,CG 125 type and Tailand Honda) it is very beautiful and very suitable for local custom. The new technology have very capacious foreground, it can bring you very infinite business chance,and we have no agent until now,we are searching our best nice business partner,hope we can cooperate with you and set up long term business relation.
For the target of us above, we are currently looking for the good business and professional partner to promote our these CNG 2 wheels motorcycle very well also target for assembling them locally for ensureing large order quantity and profit for two sides.
Of course, your background and position of business line has been our preferred one of them. so, it will be much appreciating for us to get any advice from your side promptly.
Looking forward to your reply soon!
Thanks
(For the avoidance letter be lost,When you reply our letter, suggest write back to three E-mail box at the same time.)
E-mail : [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected]
Mr.Weilin Lee
China Chongqing Big (Group) Co. Ltd
(branch No.4 )BIG CNG Compressor Manufacture factory
(branch No.5 )Chuanjiang automobile Manufacture factory
Chongqing Big Science & Technology Development Co. Ltd (Big Group I/E Dept. )
Telephone: +86-23-67635049 ;+86-23-67635035 -(operate)- 605;(office)
Fax:+86-23-67635036; MSN: [email protected]
http://www.chinacngbus.com
http://www.made-in-china.com/product.do?action=list&prodLibFlag=0010
Http://www.china-cng.net
Posted by: weilin lee | 24 February 2007 at 11:34 PM
our company is specializing in manufacturing composite CNG cylinders in china ,welcome to contact us!
we are permitted to produce seamless steel cylinders, wrapped cylinders and cylinders for NGV. At present the company mainly produces steel lined carbon fiber hoop-wrapped composite cylinders for NGV .
E-mail:[email protected]
[email protected]
Posted by: ting hua | 25 February 2007 at 08:00 PM
Dear sir or madam,
We are Ouxiang International Limited,main items are relative with mobile phone and parts.
Which items do you have interest? Please check our webpage first.Any interest you have,please contact me.
Best regards
Linlan
Ouxiang International Limited
www.oxiang.com.cn
+86-755-28108557
[email protected]
Posted by: Linlan | 17 September 2007 at 02:06 AM
Dear Sir
We are Iranian company that we are searching for car C.N.G gaz cylinder. We find your address in Specialspring.com. If you have C.N.G gaz cylinder for car & buses please kindly inform us.
We are waiting for your kind information.
Sadri
Hadaf Trading Co.
Tehran - Iran
Tele: +98-21-44050677
Fax: +98-21-44051730
Mobil: +98-9123049550
Posted by: Sadri | 24 October 2007 at 06:31 AM
Hex Bolt, Hex Bolt Supplier, Hex Bolt Manufacture, hex, bolt, Windsor Hex Bolt, Hex Bolt, India Hex Bolts, Manufacture Hax Bolt Supplier, Hex Bolt Exporter,Crown Screw, fasteners, screws, Crown Screw and Bolt, Crown, nuts and bolts, bolt bus, banjo bolts, crown bolt
Posted by: windsor exports | 30 September 2008 at 09:37 PM
Hex Bolt, Hex Bolt Supplier, Hex Bolt Manufacture, hex, bolt, Windsor Hex Bolt, Hex Bolt, India Hex Bolts, Manufacture Hax Bolt Supplier, Hex Bolt Exporter,Crown Screw, fasteners, screws, Crown Screw and Bolt, Crown, nuts and bolts, bolt bus, banjo bolts, crown bolt
Posted by: windsor exports | 30 September 2008 at 09:38 PM
Dear Sir,
Good day! CCF was established in 1965 in China. We are specialized in:
CNG Compressor
PET compressor
Nitrogen Compressor
Hydrogen Compressor
Carbon Dioxide Compressor
Coal Gas & Mine Gas Compressor
We'd like to find a partner for a long term business relationship, if you are interested, please contact me.
Waiting for your information.
Yours Sincerely,
Jene
Chongqing Compressor Factory
Tel:+86-23-62539396
Fax:+86-23-62539370
Mobile: +86-13368107368
MSN: [email protected]
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.cqcompressors.com
Posted by: Account Deleted | 24 February 2010 at 06:51 PM
I would be interested in buying this as a Kit. Does anyone have one available?
Posted by: Jroy | 07 August 2012 at 04:57 PM