LPG for HSV E3

Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) has announced the option of a new Liquid Propane Injection (LPI) system for its latest E3-Series vehicles latest E3-Series vehicles to bring a better cruising range and more environmental credibility to the high performance range.

Improving emissions and reducing running costs, LPI is available across sedan and utility models throughout the new E3-Series range -- ClubSport R8 Tourer the only model omitted from receiving the new technology.

Unlike most dual-fuel systems, which supply vapourised LPG to the engine, LPI injects LPG into the manifold as a liquid, allowing cooler combustion and better fuel metering, ensuring that outright engine performance is maintained while emissions and fuel costs are lowered. The LPI system features a multi-valve fuel delivery module, meaning that each one of the engine's eight cylinders has both an LPG injector and a petrol injector attached to it.

"LPI was developed to deliver two tangible benefits to the motorist. Reduced running costs as well as reduced emissions; however, from the very beginning we committed that we would not compromise on engine performance," said HSV managing director, Phil Harding.

"The development of LPI began when petrol was at its peak, and we recognised that many motorists had already bought into the idea of LPG as an alternative fuel, but they had always had to compromise in respect of engine performance. LPI overcomes this problem."

LPI is available until between 4000 and 4500rpm when the ECU switches seamlessly to 100 per cent petrol operation. The computer also switches the car to petrol automatically for starting.

Developed in conjunction with Orbital Engineering, LPI is unique to HSV, and delivers absolutely no loss of output, with the torque curve altered only slightly. HSV says there is no effect on engine durability.

"While early in the development phase the LPI technology stood out as a very strong option to achieve our objectives of lower CO2 emissions and lower running costs, the critical challenge for HSV was to ensure it worked seamlessly, and that there was no loss in performance," explained HSV's engineering manager, Joel Stoddart.

"The good news from our perspective is that when we have put people in development cars they thought were driving a normal HSV V8."

CO2 emissions are reduced by as much as 15 per cent, and although HSV have yet to carry out official fuel consumption testing, the manufacturer says benefits could be as high as 50 per cent, taking the theoretical range from both fuel sources to in excess of 1000 kilometres.

The boot (or tray) mounted LPG tank reduces the carrying capacity by 165-litres and adds an additional 100kg of weight to the vehicle's kerb mass (when the tank is full). The filler is housed within the existing (petrol) cap. 

"LPI will appeal to people that are interested in a system that overcomes many of the limitations of current LPG systems, commonly a loss in power and torque," said HSV's general manager of sales, Darren Bowler.

"We believe that for the person who has bought into LPG as an alternative fuel, that there is appeal in a technology that can deliver a seamless mix of high performance, lower emissions, and lower running costs."

At this stage, HSV estimate the uptake of customers choosing LPI in its new E3-Series range to be upward of 5 per cent.

The system is available optionally for $5990 on sedan models and $6390 on utes -- and like all LPG systems, does attract government rebate.

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