Engine investments

Through the Propane Education & Research Council, $472,000 in engine certification research has been invested by the propane industry since 1999. Those projects are:

Project: LPG Emissions Deterioration Factor

Applicant: Northwest Propane Gas Co.

Amount approved: $180,000

Project summary: Develop propane-specific deterioration factors to replace those used by EPA for Option 3 testing and for full EPA or California certification beginning with model year 2002 vehicles. The EPA’s DFs were developed from mathematical modeling and assume rapid deterioration of vehicles’ emissions performance. New DFs will be developed for at least 15 light-duty engine families based on actual emissions testing of LPG vehicles.

Project: Certification of a Low NOx Propane Medium Duty GM Truck (2001 M.Y. 8.1L)

Applicant: IMPCO Technologies, Inc.

Amount approved: $100,000

Project summary: Develop a propane system for the new GM 8.1L engine released in medium-duty trucks for the 2001 model year. Funding develops a Low NOx certification for a dedicated propane engine.

Project: Re-certification of the Low NOx Propane Medium Duty GM Truck (7.4L)

Applicant: IMPCO Technologies, Inc.

Amount approved: $20,000

Project summary: Funding allows a carry-over certification for the 2000 Model Year.

Project: Ford 6.8L Bi-fuel System

Applicant: Propane Vehicle Council

Amount approved: $50,000

Project summary: Program to evolve “LEV” ca-pable propane bifuel vapor injection system for 8,500 GVW commercial truck applications.

Project: LPG Fuel Blends Evaluation Project

Applicant: ADEPT Group, Inc.

Amount approved: $30,000

Project summary: Independent emissions/performance/durability test examining impact of common variables in LPG fuel quality on emissions, performance, and durability on OEM vehicles and engines.

Project: EPA’s Mobile Model: Phase I

Applicant: Propane Vehicle Council

Amount approved: $34,500

Project summary: The goal of this project is to gather available data on propane vehicle emission rates and to negotiate with EPA about incorporating propane vehicle emission values into its MOBILE model.

Project: EPA’s Mobile 6 Model: Phase II

Applicant: Anderson Associates

Amount approved: $57,393

Project summary: See description from project Phase I above.