Hyundai runs LPG tests

HYUNDAI Australia has imported an LPG-powered version of its large Grandeur sedan to evaluate its advanced direct-injection powertrain.

Hyundai’s senior manager product communications and public relations Ben Hershman, said: “The key to us is that we are able to evaluate the LPI system in our market.” Part of the evaluation will focus on the mixture difference between Australian LPG – with its 50-50 mix of propane and butane – and the Korean fuel, which is heavier on butane.

Korea has a large LPG market, and Hyundai’s direct liquid injection is the most advanced available.

“The technology is well advanced in Korea,” Mr Hershman said. “When the opportunity came up for us to secure a dedicated LPI Grandeur, we took that.” Technical evaluation of the Grandeur LPI is yet to start and is expected to take a couple of months.

“We just got the car very recently and it required a nozzle change and we needed to do some checking over and so on,” Mr Hershman said.

“We are aware that the mixtures of butane and propane are different. My understanding is that depending on the time of year, what gas mixture is available varies as well. That’s part of the evaluation process.” Peter Linehan, LPG Australia’s technical manager automotive and application, said Korean LPG mixture was a richer mix of butane, up to 60-70 per cent, compared with Australia’s typically 50-50 mixture of the gases.

Other less significant issues include the filling point, which is different between Korea and Australia.

A major LPG market in Australia is taxis, but Mr Hershman said that as far as he was aware, Hyundai was not directly focussing on the local taxi market with the Grandeur LPI.

He said the Grandeur was predominantly a private car in Korea.

Just 20 petrol and diesel Grandeurs have been sold in Australia this year, down from 76 in the same period last year.

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