Tickford is an automotive engineering consultancy firm with expertise in alternate fuels. Over 23,000 vehicles in Australia run on LPG using the kit designed by Tickford.

The LPG prototype, explained Ford India, manager - technical & field service, Sandeep Dhond, is a dual fuel vehicle which can run either on petrol or LPG at the choice of the driver though petrol, due to its higher calorific value, is used for ignition. Switchover from one fuel to the other can be done instantly without having to stop the vehicle. It has a specially designed LPG tank (much safer than fitting a cylinder) with auto gas management system fitted in the boot.

Ford, he added, has given the maximum emphasis on safety and some of the features include automatic fill limiter which will only allow filling to the tune of only 80 per cent of the 35 kg tank capacity in line with international norm, manual shut off valve if LPG is not used as a fuel for long periods and safety release valve which will release the gas to the atmosphere automatically if the tank pressure increases to unsustainable levels.

The flow of gas is also controlled by excess flow valve and this comes in handy during an accident where the supply line could get ruptured. In that scenario, the LPG gets pushed back into the tank instead of pressure increasing to dangerous levels.

Ford India has established the technical feasibility of bringing out an LPG version which is safe, durable and conforms to stringent Australian standards said Dhond. The financial feasibility and the business case would be developed once details such as cost at which LPG will be supplied as an auto fuel, its availability across the country and consequent potential for the LPG version becomes available.

LPG, according to Sandeep, is a much more economical fuel than petrol, diesel or even CNG apart from the fact that it is the most environmentally friendly fuel. LPG offers twice the mileage that a petrol or diesel car gives and is expected to be at least 60 per cent cheaper than petrol (more or less same price as diesel). LPG, unlike CNG, can be made readily available across the country and oil companies have shown willingness to set up necessary infrastructure for dispensing LPG through retail outlets.