German automaker Opel’s future has appeared murky recently as parent
firm General Motors struggles to stay alive. The company showed confidence in
its long-term survival by unveiling five liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) models last
week to be released in the European market. Opel will produce its Zafira,
Astra, Meriva and two versions of its Corsa supermini powered with gas/LPG
systems. Each model will feature a fuel switch to change from LPG to gas power
and back with one push of a button.
Opel highlighted several advantages to manufacturing
dedicated LPG systems rather than pursuing vehicle retrofits during its announcement. Each component in
an Opel LPG model is specifically calibrated and tested for hybrid use,
eliminating mechanical problems often associated with retrofitting. The Zafira’s
underfloor LPG tank and the spare-wheel well tank used in other models meet
European vehicle safety standards. Opel has priced each LPG car $3,100 USD
above its gas-only contemporary, which is considerably lower than LPG retrofits
currently on the market.
The automaker’s LPG models will vary greatly in engine
output based on vehicle and engine size. The Corsa LPG will range from 78
horsepower (1.2 liter engine) to 87 horsepower (1.4-liter engine) while the 1.4-liter Meriva will produce 87 horsepower. The LPG version
of the Astra Station Wagon will feature a 1.6-liter engine capable of producing
108 horsepower at peak performance. A 1.8-liter engine with enough strength to
produce 136 horsepower will keep the Zafira multipurpose vehicle in motion.
Opel’s ecoFLEX line of LPG models will reduce greenhouse
emissions while extending driving range for commuters. Each vehicle is capable
of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 13% compared to Opel’s gas-powered
models. The dual LPG/gasoline system allows users to exhaust one tank before
reverting to the other, contributing to ranges exceeding 750 miles. Liquefied
petroleum gas may not be the cleanest alternative fuel but will stand in as a gasoline substitute while EVs are developed.
Europe’s love affair with LPG has yielded 25,500 LPG
stations throughout the continent. Opel’s push for a more substantial LPG fleet
is a smart move for an automaker taking the longer view on alternative fuels.
Green vehicle advocates are right to want cleaner vehicles on the road but we
should not blame Opel for fitting its new models into existing infrastructure.
Opel’s LPG fleet is not an end game in the evolution of green vehicles but a
small step toward smarter, cleaner and cheaper alternatives.
