(Photo by Torston Maue on Flickr)
Renault subsidiary Dacia has benefited from the tutelage of its parent company in developing a trio of fuel-efficient vehicles. The Romanian automaker is using its Sandero hatchback and Logan sedan to test out drivetrains using E85, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and lower idling times. Dacia’s greener vehicles have been designed to match EU emissions standards while staying competitive with other European automakers in terms of price and performance.
The Sandero E85 model features a 1.6-liter engine that produces 90 horsepower. Dacia has found that the E85 version of the Sandero produces 70% less carbon dioxide emissions than the traditional Sandero without harming performance. The Dacia Sandero E85 will be able to run at peak efficiency using sugar beat-based ethanol from France, Renault’s home base. The issue with the Sandero E85 is its lagging emissions levels with sugar cane ethanol and other alternative fuels emerging from places like Sweden.
Dacia will use the Sandero and Logan bodies to test out its 1.4-liter, 75 horsepower dual gas-LPG system. Drivers of the LPG Sandero and Logan will be able to switch between gasoline and LPG from their dashboards. The LPG drive system can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 12% and produces 60% less noise pollution than a diesel engine. Dacia designed the LPG tank with a tank-fill limiter, fuel flow control and a crash-resistant body that protect drivers from fuel leaks. The automaker has touted this technology as a solution to the issue of commuting distances, noting that their LPG models can travel up to 746 miles with full tanks of LPG and gasoline. LPG Sanderos and Logans will have access to 32,000 LPG filling stations throughout Europe, an obvious consideration for Dacia and Renault when developing this technology.
The final entry by Dacia in its 2009 collection is the 1.2-liter, 16V low-idling gas engine available in the Sandero and Logan frames. This engine features an idled speed of 650 RPMs rather than 750 RPMs, reducing gas consumption by 3% in areas with congested traffic. Dacia’s low-idling models will feature service intervals of two years or 30,000 miles to help consumers stay on the road rather than spending time in the shop.
