Toyota Prius 2nd Gen. - converted to LPG hybrid

[mandrei83]

Hello,

I've just finished converting my Toyota Prius Executive 2007 into a LPG-hybrid. I name it formally "The three-hybrid", because it has 3 sources of power: gasoline, LPG and the HV battery. Would be nice to put a solar cell roof + the conversion to solar power, but I cannot afford those 3.500USD that I have to pay for that kit...

I've used the products from attachment:
-STAG-300 Premium kit, made by Autogaz Poland (see http://www.ac.com.pl)
-Valtek-34 injector
-Tomasetto vaporizer
-STAKO LPG gas tank, has 34 liters (but only about 27-28 liters of gas can be put inside)
-OBD-II dynamic adaptation kit (it learns the driving style of the gasoline engine and translate the parameters to the one on LPG)
-USB diagnosis interface (with OBD-II code scan&clear tool for engine)

Regarding fuel prices in Romania:

LPG: 1L/0.26 gallons (liquid US)/0.21 gallons (UK) = 0.50EUR/0.40GBP/0.61USD
Gasoline: 1L/0.26 gallons (liquid US)/0.21 gallons (UK) = 1.11EUR/0.92GBP/1.39USD

The whole investment was 640EUR with shipping from Poland to Romania included. The weight was 22Kg/48lbs for gas tank and 12Kg/26lbs for the rest of the components, shipped with GLS courier.

Now, about the consumption... my LPG system starts to work when the engine reaches 15 degrees Celsius (after 2-3 seconds) and it consumes on this time some gasoline. Because of this, the gasoline tank manages to stay in my 45 liters tank about 4-5.000Km / 2.300-3.100 US/UK miles, while the consumption for LPG (including the one on gasoline) is:
-in Bucharest/city is around 6L/100Km = 47MPG(UK) = 39MPG(US) = 3EUR/100Km!!!
-outside city 5L/100Km = 56MPG(UK) = 47MPG(US) = 2.5EUR/100Km!!!

Enjoy the pictures and my documentation! BTW, my car is the 2nd LPG-hybrid from Romania... the first conversion was made by a friend of mine, Catalin (see both LPG-hybrids in a row, in one of the pictures). Probably he will write here something in closer future!

Best regards,
Andrei from Romania

[richard schumacher]

Marvellous! The kit, its documentation and your installation all look excellent. Please let us know your results over time.

Do you have a way to measure emissions?

[2k1Toaster]

That's pretty cool! Any danger of keeping petrol for such a long time in the tank without being used?

[mandrei83]

Originally Posted by richard schumacher

Marvellous! The kit, its documentation and your installation all look excellent. Please let us know your results over time.

Do you have a way to measure emissions?

Hi Richard,

For sure I'll do this. Anyway, I forgot to tell people that me and Catalin (the other Prius-LPG-hybrid owner) very proud about our work. The car consumes about 5-10% more LPG than gasoline, but the LPG is more cheaper than the gasoline with 55% (after my calculations).

The investment (630EUR) is planned to be recovered in first 8.000Km/4.970miles..
Regarding the CO2 emissions, I have to go at Romanian Auto Register first, to register my modification to the car. I think the CO2 emissions will be divided with 2-3; if you put your nose on the back of the car you can even smell that air... (it goes water most of the time).

BR,
Andrei

[mandrei83]

Originally Posted by 2k1Toaster

That's pretty cool! Any danger of keeping petrol for such a long time in the tank without being used?

Hi,

There's no problem with the tank, even if it's left without being used. It has about 3-4 protections if the LPG will get out (see that device from the middle of the LPG tank). I'm not very technical, but Catalin will tell you more when he will access the forum. I've just announce him to come... he's a master in speed airplanes engines (he knows the airplane engine's mechanics very good and he's speed airplane pilot). Finally, he's got a US Army sticker put in the back of his 2004 Prius)!

Andrei

[2k1Toaster]

I meant with stale petrol/gasoline. If it takes you 4000-5000km to deplete a tank, it is sitting in there for 3 to 4 months.

[mandrei83]

Originally Posted by 2k1Toaster

I meant with stale petrol/gasoline. If it takes you 4000-5000km to deplete a tank, it is sitting in there for 3 to 4 months.

Well, something like that.. But it's not a problem with the gasoline; it's just like letting a car in your garage with gasoline inside (will not expire, will not get vaporized and so on) .

I thought that you're asking me about the LPG that can get out from the tank after a while because of the high pressure inside. It cannot happen this (in my case it didn't), because the tank is fully secured and has some gas protections/valves.

BTW, I'm just curious, how accessible is the LPG in US? Do you have LPG stations? If yes, which is the price of the LPG?

[KK6PD]

Andrei, What a great write up, pics are pefect, well done!!! Please keep us updated on your MPG, KM/Liter results!

[mandrei83]

Originally Posted by KK6PD

Andrei, What a great write up, pics are pefect, well done!!! Please keep us updated on your MPG, KM/Liter results!

I'll do this for sure!

As a matter of fact, in Romania they are around 22 million people and about 120 Prius cars sold by Toyota Romania, between 2006-present. The information is token from the Vehicle Producers and Importers Association (APIA - Asociatia Producatorilor si Importatorilor de Automobile), and this makes me very proud. You can see in Bucharest's traffic a Prius once a month, if you're lucky.. so this makes it an hybrid-exclusive car. The most owned car makers in Romania are: Dacia, VW, Renault, Peugeot, BMW and Audi. People prefer powerful cars, big engines and luxury. They cannot afford luxury to buy a brand new car, so they buy it from Germany at secondhand.

[snead_c]

[QUOTE=2k1Toaster;1147332]I meant with stale petrol/gasoline. If it takes you 4000-5000km to deplete a tank, it is sitting in there for a long time.
Our gasoline tends to become gummy (clogs up fuel delivery components) after sitting in a tank unused for many months. We often use a gas treatment Stabil to keep it from doing this in stored classic vehicles and seasonal equipment.
Your modifications are very interesting. Thank you.