In Chile, there are at least 20,000 vehicles converted to operate on LPG and 55 refuelling stations offering this fuel. LPG has been available for the automotive segment from 2003, and since then it keeps its solid position as a clean, economic and safe alternative fuel. For all these reasons, taxis, vans, pick-up trucks and other commercial fleets have progressively adopted this technology.

Under this positive scenario, the local Autogas industry has recently introduced the liquid injection kit, a more advanced technology ideal for high-power pickup trucks because it maintains the vehicle performance and power of the engine, requires less maintenance, and allows significant savings. With more conversion centres offering this technology, more Chilean large fleet operators are expected to accelerate the transition to Autogas.

Abastible Autogas, a workshop already utilising the liquid injection technology, will be commercialising the kit only among high-power trucks, while in a second instance they will extend it to the rest of the commercial vehicles.

Álvaro Jara, deputy manager of Abastible Autogas, explains that “Autogas increases the vehicle range by 80% because it is bi-fuel (the propulsion system can use LPG or gasoline), bringing a superior autonomy compared to gasoline and electric vehicles.

From a cost point of view, Autogas has proven to be a better option than gasoline: for example, a truck that runs 2,550 kilometres per month would spend 323,304 Chilean pesos  (more than US$ 500) using 95 octane gasoline. For the same route, a vehicle that uses LPG spends 221,570 Chilean pesos (about US$350). This generates monthly savings of more than US$150 and annual savings of nearly US$2,000.

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