GM Holden Launches Dual-Fuel Commodore

[Darren]

The success of Australia’s most popular car range will be enhanced with the launch of a dual-fuel Commodore, featuring a newly-developed version of GM Holden’s 3.6 litre Alloytec V6. The engine is modified to run on petrol and LPG, using new valves and hardened valve seats designed for harsher LPG operating conditions.

Based on the Executive variant, the LPG-powered Commodore uses a high-tech system called Sequential Vapour Gas Injection (SVGI), which injects gas directly into the air intake runner, eliminating excess gas circulating through the air intake system.

The system gains further efficiencies by mimicking the petrol injection sequence, which allowed engineers to achieve power and torque figures close to theoretical LPG maximum efficiencies. Like the petrol-only Executive, power is 175kW @ 6000 rpm with 320 Nm of torque @ 2800 rpm.

Consistent with GM Holden’s efficient Alloytec engines, the dual-fuel Executive meets Euro 2 emission standards. LPG fuel economy is 14.4 litres/100km (sedan) and 14.8 litres/100km (wagon). Petrol fuel economy figures remain unchanged at 11.1 litres/100km (sedan) and 11.3 litres/100km (wagon).

Significant development work was undertaken to ensure a seamless transition from petrol to LPG while driving, with no discernable power difference. The LPG system uses petrol on start up, then automatically transfers to LPG, if selected, once the engine has warmed up.

Another advantage of the gas-powered Commodore is one fuel filling point – the gas outlet is located above the petrol cap behind the fuel filler door.

The system is also easy to service and maintain. In addition to GM Holden’s standard maintenance schedule, the dual-fuel system requires an LPG-system service only every 15,000kms, which involves changing two filters and a leak check.

GM Holden National Fleet Manager Simon Carr said the appeal of LPG-powered vehicles is increasing due to LPG’s compliance with all current and future emissions regulations, and the comparatively low cost of LPG.

“There’s more and more interest in LPG vehicles due to the increased cost of petrol.” he said.

“GM Holden’s sophisticated SVGI system produces the same driving characteristics as the petrol-only Commodore and it also has the cost advantage of the cheaper fuel source.”

The dual-fuel VZ Commodore Executive is priced at $37,550 for the sedan and $40,660 for the wagon.

Production of the LPG-powered Commodore begins in October, with GM Holden dealers taking orders from today.

Source: Holden Media Web Site.

[Patrio7]

warms up on fuel then flicks to lpg?

so either way you still need to put that $20 in each week. but on the flip side lpg in perth is hovering about 40c a litre so $20 a week on unleaded is still a notable saving.

very nice.

[Jesk]

yeah sounds pretty good cos the petrol price is a real killer, even though the price is hardly the retailers fault its about like this

[pro_gmh]

Well the ACCC are aparntly investigation why the price of petrol doesnt go up and down with the price of oil, they reckon that the fuel companys are also taking advantage of this.

[czerwonyVN]

warms up on fuel then flicks to lpg?

so either way you still need to put that $20 in each week. but on the flip side lpg in perth is hovering about 40c a litre so $20 a week on unleaded is still a notable saving.

very nice.

my parents have an LPG setup like this. it uses so little petrol its not funny. its on petrol for 30 seconds at most.

[pro_gmh]

Holden are the first to use this LPG injection.

[Jesk]

Well the ACCC are aparntly investigation why the price of petrol doesnt go up and down with the price of oil, they reckon that the fuel companys are also taking advantage of this.

i know its certianly not at a site level, cos if seen times where the servo i work at got the juice in at 128.1 cpl and was being sold at 128.9 cpl and considering all the discount vouchers we really dont make our profits on the petrol, oh yeah about time the ACCC investigated this cos the refining companies have increased their profit margin from $7 per barrel 2 months ago to $17 per barrel now, thats criminal plain and simple

[packet_pumper]

Anyone know the LPG Fuel tanks capacity of this new Commodore? I also presume the petrol tank is the same size as standard commodore(if not what is the capacity)? Interested to know if ifholden reduced the petrol tank size to accomodate the additional LPG tank? I'm trying to figure out the range of this car as I'd hate to be fueling up twice as many times if the capacity of the LPG tank is low.
Also, if you wanted to take this car on a road trip through the outback I presume LPG stations maybe rare thus can the car run in "petrol mode only" or must you always have petrol+LPG available for the car to work? I'd hope the car could run purely on petrol from a flexability perspective so if I was on a road trip then I don't need to plan fuel stops via every town with LPG fueling stations.

thanks

Mike Anderson

[greenfoam]

Excellent, I thought if Holden were on the ball something like this would be comming, I'll expect an LPG powered turbo V6 in the VE then they will be ok while oil prices stay high

[dude 21]

about time

[Infus10n]

ive never liked gas conversions but having gas as stock built by holden sounds promising.

Whats next? hydro-electric cars by holden? haha

[filtnineee]

im getting my vs conveted to duel fuel at the end of october by a group called parnell. now having read the system holden has install, it sounds just like the parnell system i am having fitted, so i cant see how any of it is new technogly, though this new vapour system is only 1-2 years old, but great news, shame how the front seats in commodores are still to high though

[michaelw]

ive never liked gas conversions but having gas as stock built by holden sounds promising.

Whats next? hydro-electric cars by holden? haha

If you mean hybrid-electric they already built a prototype called the E-commodore. It is on display at the powerhouse museum. I also saw it at the 2000 paralympics. from memory it looks like a VT but with a monaro rear end. It has a smaller IC engine with super caps and lead acid batteries.

Mike

[marty52]

warms up on fuel then flicks to lpg?

so either way you still need to put that $20 in each week. but on the flip side lpg in perth is hovering about 40c a litre so $20 a week on unleaded is still a notable saving.

very nice.

I have a factory fitted LPG VT, which uses petrol on start up. $20 worth of petrol keeps you going for months!

[marty52]

I have a factory fitted LPG VT which uses petrol on startup. $20 worth of petrol lasts for months!!

[stormin]

Also, if you wanted to take this car on a road trip through the outback I presume LPG stations maybe rare thus can the car run in "petrol mode only" or must you always have petrol+LPG available for the car to work? I'd hope the car could run purely on petrol from a flexability perspective so if I was on a road trip then I don't need to plan fuel stops via every town with LPG fueling stations.
Mike Anderson

It's dual-fuel so it will run on either. If you select LPG, it will start with ULP and switch to LPG after the engine is warm. Otherwise, it will stay on ULP. You would imagine the setup (apart from this being injection) is similar to their previous ones, ie keep existing tank and place the LPG tank(s) in the spare wheel well and relocate the spare wheel.