Spain is committed to LEZs, although we barely have 20 at the end of 2022. Faster or slower, the implementation of the environmental label system is a heavy blow for vehicles that cannot count on it. Without a label, you cannot circulate in certain areas of the territory, and the prices of new cars do not help to renew the Spanish fleet.
There is, however, a relatively cheap solution to make our old car eligible for the ECO label, the same as plug-in and non-plug-in hybrids (remember that the ZERO is only provided to 100% electric). The conversion to LPG is the great ally of old cars.
What is LPG. Our cars can burn gasoline, but also gas. LPG, also known as autogas, is the most popular, and its acronym comes from “Liquefied Petroleum Gas”. Basically, we are talking about a mixture between butane and propane.
30% of LPG comes from the oil refining process and 70% from natural gas or oil fields. It occupies a smaller volume than gasoline, making it easier to transport and distribute.
This fuel is stored in a tank, generally located in the bottom of the trunk (where the spare wheel usually goes). Pipes that transmit this gas to the engine, usually located in the front of our car, arise from said tank. A specific control unit is necessary to control this flow of alternative fuel, and after its installation the car can run on both gas and gasoline.
How to drive a car with LPG. Unlike electric cars, where the transmission is automatic and torque is instantaneous, LPG cars have exactly the same mechanics as any gasoline since, after all, they are still cars that also run on gasoline. When driving with LPG we usually notice a somewhat smoother response, as the fuel is somewhat cleaner.
Although the car runs on both LPG and gasoline, we are not talking about a hybrid system. Simply, we have a bifuel system, with two separate tanks and the possibility of driving with one or the other fuel. In fact, the start always occurs with gasoline and, until the car reaches working temperature, we cannot switch to LPG.
What cars can be converted to LPG. The conversion to LPG is a process with an average cost of between 1,500 and 3,000 euros. It is not an economic figure, but it is a figure to consider if we do not want to change cars and enjoy the ECO label.
For a car to enjoy this label, we have to make sure that our gasoline has been manufactured under the Euro 4, Euro 5 or Euro 6 regulations. Only in these scenarios can we change the C label for the ECO label.
It will therefore be necessary for our car to be manufactured from the year 2006. If our car has Euro 3 regulations (from 2001 onwards) we can also carry out the conversion, but it is important to note that in these cases the ECO label cannot be obtained. , so that the process is of little use in the area of circulation and tax.
How do I convert my car to LPG. To convert our Euro 4 gasoline onwards to LPG, we will have to go to a specialized center. In it, they will install a LPG kit made up of several elements, namely:
O-ring shaped, high-strength steel reservoir, usually located in the spare wheel well.
Multivalve mounted on the tank. Its function is to allow the gas charge and measure its level.
Reducer: LPG gas converter to a liquid state so that it can flow through the vehicle’s injection system.
LPG feed pipe.
Specific injection system or adapted to the LPG flow.
Gas filter to prevent impurities or residues from accumulating.
LPG/Gasoline switch so that the car can run on both fuels.
Specialized control unit (ECU).
Where do I refuel LPG and for how much money?. There are not a few gas stations that allow you to refuel LPG. We only have to open Google Maps, write “Gasolinera GLP” and the results will appear. Most of the LPG gas stations in Spain belong to Repsol. At the time I write this article, gasoline is priced at €1.65, while LPG (LPG) marks €0.99. A much cheaper fuel compared to traditional ones.
The tax benefits of LPG. The GLP does not allow access to the ECO label, so we have a lifeline against the most restrictive LEZs. This is not its only advantage. LPG vehicles can benefit from a reduction in the circulation tax, 50% discounts in regulated parking areas, discounts in some tolls, and even circulation in HOV lanes in some cities.
LPG problems. It is clear that LPG is cleaner, cheaper and more interesting at a fiscal level than gasoline, but it also has its problems. First of all, LPG entails a somewhat higher consumption, between 5 and 10% more. This additional consumption will mean less autonomy when we use the LPG tank.
It is also important to highlight the possible long-term mechanical problems if we do not have specific maintenance on our LPG. The valves tend to dry out especially, so it is convenient to keep them up to date and even use additives to protect them.
Adding an LPG tank also implies a considerable increase in the weight of the vehicle. Adding between 50 and 100 kilos should not have a notable impact on consumption when we use gasoline, but it is still an additional weight that we add to the vehicle. Adding this deposit also makes us lose, generally, the spare wheel, as well as some trunk capacity.
Beyond these problems, the economic outlay that it entails and the fact that we will have to find our lives to go to gas stations that, specifically, also have LPG, this is the cheapest alternative to entering an LEZ.
