GM Holden Develops All-New LPG System for Commodore
Engineers who evaluated liquid and vapor-injection LPG systems found after building a proof-of-concept liquid-injection prototype vehicle that vapor injection was the only way to meet the program’s goals.
Production of the all-new dedicated LPG Commodore launches at GM Holden’s Vehicle Operations in Elizabeth, South Australia.
The liquefied-petroleum-gas system, which is available for the Commodore sedan, sport wagon, pickup and long-wheelbase models, comes after an intensive engineering project that clocked up more than 810,000 development miles (1.3 million km) to deliver a vehicle designed for Australian conditions and driving tastes.
The program resulted in numerous engineering solutions with several patents awarded.
The heart of the LPG Commodore is its 3.6L double-overhead-cam V-6 engine with four valves per cylinder specifically developed to run on LPG.
LPG is sourced and refined in Australia, and typically costs at least 30% less than gasoline while producing 10% to 15% less carbon-dioxide and substantially fewer hydrocarbon emissions.
The Omega LPG sedan has a range of more than 435 miles (700 km) to ensure “range anxiety” is not an issue. The auto maker says that with more than 3,300 metropolitan and rural LPG outlets nationwide, Australia’s LPG infrastructure is extensive and well-established.
Brian McMurray, program engineering manager for the LPG Commodore program, says engineers had three crucial targets: class-leading CO2 emissions; fuel running costs comparable with, or better than, those of many small gasoline-powered cars; and a driving experience in line with gasoline-powered Commodore models.