Other Transport

Forklift Trucks

LPG is an increasingly popular fuel to power industrial vehicles such as forklift trucks, mini transporters and other non-road mobile machinery (NRMM). One 18kg cylinder can power a forklift or similar vehicle for around eight hours, with no power loss, and they work just as well indoors as outside with fewer harmful emissions.[1]

For example, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland & Northern Ireland use bioLPG to power their fleet of fourteen forklift trucks at their plant. The trucks are used both inside and outside the plant for loading and unloading lorries and transporting raw materials to the factory floor.

Marine

LPG is a clean burning fuel commonly used in boats and leisure craft, such as canal boats. Due to its versatility, LPG is also widely used on boats for heat and cooking.

Diesel engines are traditionally popular, however due to diesels nasty pollutants; LPG is becoming a clean burning favourite. As a clean burning fuel, LPG emits very low levels of NOx, SOx and Particulate Matter.

In addition to smaller boats, LPG can power ferries. In 2020, The Isle of Man Government announced that it is supporting duel fuel LPG ships. Ten ships will be converted to use LPG, virtually eliminating sulphur emissions by around 90-97% and further reducing the emission of nitrogen oxides and black carbon particulate matter.[2]

Rail

25% of all UK passenger trains and 90% of all freight trains are diesel powered. Electrification is not always a suitable alternative, due to availability and affordability, which means many freight trains will need to be self-powered.[3]

To combat this, a Liquid Gas UK member has been supporting G-volution, an engine converter with bioLPG for a duel fuel freight locomotive trial. The project is the first of its kind in the UK, possibly the world.

The G-volution optimizer is a duel fuel system which enables the quantity of diesel used to be reduced and replaced with a more environmentally friendly fuel such as bioLPG. It offers a clear reduction in carbon emissions, is safe, and makes no difference to the running of the train. For further information see www.sbl-rail.co.uk  [4] 

[1] UKLPG, Targeting Carbon Reduction in Off-Grid Britain (2013)

[2] Liquid Gas UK, Isle of Man Government supports dual fuel LPG ships (August 2020) < https://www.liquidgasuk.org/news/2020/isle-of-man-government-supports-dual-fuel-lpg-ships>

[3] G-Volution Ltd, Written evidence to the transport committee (May 2019) < https://www.g-volution.co.uk/site/sites/default/files/Transport-Select-Committee-Trains-fit-for-the%20future-G-volution-Ltd.pdf>

[4] G-Volution Ltd, Written evidence to the transport committee (May 2019) < https://www.g-volution.co.uk/site/sites/default/files/Transport-Select-Committee-Trains-fit-for-the%20future-G-volution-Ltd.pdf>