Several car companies offer vehicles that are factory-fitted with an LPG system. BMW from 1995 r. successively introduces such cars to the market. According to the company's representatives, they are intended to gather experience with unconventional drives and constitute the next step on the way to the goal, which is a hydrogen-powered car, fuel with operating properties similar to natural gas. The 518g Touring and 316g Compact models were presented first, designed to burn compressed natural gas. In the latter, an 80-liter tank was installed in place of the rear seat, reducing the number of seats to two, but halving the boot capacity. The engine develops power 64 kW (to 75 kW on a comparable petrol version), consumes approx. 5 kg of gas per 100 km, which means the range of the order 200+250 km and limits the range of applications rather to city traffic. Here, the CO2 emission is 141 g/km, i.e. by approx. 25% less than the petrol version, the level of hydrocarbons was reduced by 80%. BMW 320g Touring with two CNG gas tanks (behind the rear seat backrest and in the spare wheel well), with total capacity 85 dm3 and range 180 km or with one liquefied natural gas tank (55 dm3, 300 km range). BMW 523g CNG (145 dm3,400 km of range). The assumed exhaust gas composition corresponds to the standards for EZEV vehicles (it is equal to emissions from power stations generating electricity supplying electric cars). All gas-powered BMWs can also run on petrol, if required.
Ford's AFV series (Al-ternative Fuel Vehicles) includes both natural gas vehicles (Focus, Transit), as well as propane-butane gas (Focus, Mondeo). They emit by less C02 than the petrol versions. The engines are started on traditional fuel, after 5-10 s. there is a switch to gas supply.
Volvo has been selling since 1996 r. models of the S70A/70 series in "Bi-Fuel" versions. S80 adapted to burn methane contained in natural or fermentation gas, while maintaining an alternative gasoline drive. C02 emissions dropped by 25% (CNG) the 95% (biogas). Tanks capacity (130 dm3) made it possible to achieve a range of up to 630 km. There is a variant for propane-butane gas, defeating without the need for refueling 500 km.
Opel has developed the EV1 CNG concept vehicle, with three-cylinder, Turbocharged Ecotec engine 1.0 with power 60 kW. Two tanks with a capacity 26 dm3 will be enough to travel to 500 km, m.in. thanks to the continuously variable transmission. C02 emissions were kept at the level 104 g/km. The car's performance is sufficient at best: the maximum speed is 130 km/h, acceleration 0-100 km / h followed by 12 s. It is possible to fill the tanks from the home gas installation, this process continues 3,5 min.
Citroen sold the original hybrid car, diesel-electric. The Berlingo Dynavolt is powered by either a propane-butane two-cylinder engine (500 cm3, 8 kW), or an electric machine (220 V, 20 kW). A battery of nickel-cadmium batteries serves as an energy store. Depending on the selected operating mode, the car can travel 80 km, consuming the electricity stored in it, and from 150 do 260 km when using the gas drive, with a speed not exceeding 95 km/h. The LPG tank has a capacity 19 dm3, exhaust gases contain o 15% C02 less compared to the petrol Berlingo.