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Sunday, December 2, 2007

Not from NGV tank...what a relief

Blast scene


I just read something that relief me from imagining terrifying thing happens to me while refueling.

The blast in NGV Refuelling station in Jln Jambu Jerteh, Jinjang was not linked to compressed gas in the tank.

It was an oxy-acetylene gas tank kept in the boot of a Mercedes-Benz that exploded at a Petronas petrol station here on Thursday and not the car’s NGV cylinder, a Petronas Dagangan Berhad statement said yesterday.

The statement said the NGV cylinder was found intact.

“Based on our initial investigation and as reported by the customer, the probable source of the explosion was from a gas cylinder used for welding (normally containing oxy-acetylene gas) kept in the boot of the customer’s car, and not the NGV tank as reported,” it said.


Read more

However, please remind the existing rules: No hand phones, smoking and cut off that engines...

In addition to that, no flammable items in the boot such as cooking gas tank, wielding gas or petrol in a container.


Saturday, December 1, 2007

NGV Explosion in Malaysia: Scary

What a blast...


It gives me a fright to think about it. Now, it happens in Malaysia, as reported in The Star:

KUALA LUMPUR: A man cheated death when an NGV gas cylinder in his car boot exploded at a petrol station in Jalan Jambu Jerteh, Jinjang here.

The 3.50pm incident occurred after the man in his 30s had just finished refuelling his Mercedes Benz at the petrol station.

Although the car did not catch fire, its rear was damaged.

It was learnt that the driver had been talking on his mobile phone immediately after pumping gas into the cylinder.

The explosion also caused damage to the petrol station and a taxi parked nearby.
Find out more

Look at that unlucky taxi...


Health and safety aside; we all know that for sure, but for me sometimes , I refuelled without cutting of my engine to keep my wife in the car with a cool temperature while waiting for it.

Now, not anymore...

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Very fast 3-wheeler...

If you think this 3-wheeler is not a very fast car by the look of it...then you are wrong.

This little car can go from 0 to 60 mph in 5 secs. On top of that, those things that associate with fast car which is not so green such as high fuel consumption and all that gas emission are reduced drastically.


It has low fuel consumption due to the fuelvapor technologies used in the engine. The regular gasoline is converted to gas before entering the combustion chamber. It has 30% less CO2 emission.





Check it out this weird looking car.

Friday, October 26, 2007

This is so cool...motorhomes with a built-in car park

This is so cool..look at these..Although the site is in Russian but pictures can always tell thousand words.





It's so nice and comfy.I want one...please can I have one...

More from this site Byaki.net

The reason why you should stick to Kancil....

Getting you hand onto one of the supercool car doesn't really equate to practical really...I think it's stuck to a dreamy world.

Yes dreamy world to most of us (no money lah..can't afford it) and to select few that fortunate enough to play with this toy.




Friday, September 28, 2007

Is it a bike or a car? No, it's both...sort of


I think this is the most fun toy ever built. It's revolutionary. It has 3 wheels, it tilts like a bike and it's also a hybrid vehicle.

It can accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 6 seconds with a top speed of over 100 mph
Believe it or not, tt has the same height and length as MINI Cooper. This vehicle is classified as a motorcycle by NHTSA because it has 3 wheels.

The price is from $ 18,000 to $23,000. Come on, let's have one.

There's lot more in the official "VentureOne" site

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Dent remover.....unique technique

This is interesting. Remove that annoying car dent with a hair dryer and an air duster for computer (compressed carbon dioxide gas).

Simple and yet effective. That's what I like about it. I'll try that and let see what happens.





Fuel saving...petrol way but NOT my way.

Last weekend, my sister-in-law came to our house and tried to promote a 'Biomolecule' additive to increase engine performance and fuel saving up to 25%.

When I read the brochure, it's stated that a standard fuel consumption of RM 0.25 per km (I think this is conservative value based on ideal conditions, I guess most old car can go to 30 cents or more). With a saving of 25% only equates to RM 0.0625 that gives you RM 0.1875 per km.

I'm smile when I look at these figures since when I'm first started using compressed natural gas as alternative fuel besides regular unleaded petrol I recorded every single time I refuel.

The average gas consumption for my car is RM 0.06 per km. The consumption can be from as low as RM 0.04 to RM 0.07 per km.

Look at the saving using compressed natural gas = RM 0.19 per km(no fuel additive added).

Say you run 100 km.
Petrol - you will spend RM 25.00
Gas (CNG) - you will only spend RM 6.00 .....RM 19.00 saving. which means you can go extra about 316 km more. That about 3.16 times.

That about from KL to Alor Setar in Kedah (of course that the theory since max. 1 tank of 66-litre gas can only go about 200 km before refueling and there's one one place to refuel up north; Penang.)

Can you see that...I'm really feel I made a correct and timely decision to convert my car to use compressed natural gas. Forget about the initial cost...which about RM 3,000 to 5,000 depending on type of engine. You can easily recoup the cost through saving in less than a year.

Ignore all the skeptic view around converting such as long queue,heavy,not many refueling stations,too many taxis etc... Look at the saving. You can treat all you friend with a round of proper meal and still look fine.

I personally, saves around RM 10 per day or about RM 300 per month.I'm hardly using petrol now unless in unavoidable situation.

Of course, people say the saving due to low gas price which is at RM 0.68 per litre compared to RM 1.92 per litre for petrol.

Well, look globally such Argentina, Brazil, Pakistan. The gas price is lower than petrol. That's why people using it. NOT because they are environmentally-conscious although it's comes handy since it emits less carbon monoxide and others.


Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Radical new tyre design....future

Have a sneak look at the future. Radical new type of tyres. Look at that, it's like "back to history" look. Like a horse cart's wheels to me.

If you look closely, there's no valve to put in air. It's really looks like kids bike's wheel...
Look at the slim rubber on the wheel rims

The tires put in action.It's look weird right?



More photos on radical new tyres.



More on Tesla Roadster..the electric supercar

Previously I wrote about the supercool environmental-friendly electric supercar that car accelerate for 0 to 100 km/h in 4 seconds flat. Here's the review in video



As he said in the video, it's seems incomplete since the sound of the car accelerates and driving is relatively silence compared to conventional car such as Lotus etc....(No exhaust)

Read my previous post.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

A new concept for future automobiles



You know straight away that it's a Merz. Beware look can be deceiving. Well this concept car really put gamers' fantasy into reality.

Just look at the driver's seat. It's just a joystick to drive it. For me, it looks like flying a jet. So, flight sims' gamer can really feels at home with this car.




Find out more in Frogview.com

Lesson to be learnt...

I'm just came back from work. Half way on my way home, I just noticed that the engine temperature shooting up to the red zone...so quickly I pulled over to the roadside.

I waited for a few minute until the temperature went down slightly. Then I filled up the spare reservoir. It was empty. I didn't dare to open up the radiator cap...it was hot and dangerous.

I was lucky that I noticed the temperature early before anything bad happens.

So, remember guys...regularly check your radiator water. Gas ignites at a higher temperature than petrol..so the engine is hotter and to keep it cool, extra works for radiator.

Check your water. Don't wait until smoke comes out of your bonnet.

Monday, September 3, 2007

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Can you imagine that....

Look at these photos....funny right, how's on earth it ever been like that...

Real sand castle...car


Portable fuel pump?


I'm also like to do that


Can get enough...Here's more of it.

Future is here......but not for light-pocket person

0 to 100 km in 4 seconds. Max speed of over 200 km/h. Hey, it must be performance car.

Now, there's one more twist...it's 100% electric. Can you believe it...Electric performance car with a look to envy. You must be joking.

Introducing Tesla Roadster. Look at the photos..Awesome. Interested....Fork out USD 100,000 and it's yours.




It's really interesting. No spark plug to worry off, no motor oil,filter,belts. The only maintenance is checking tyres and brakes. Also totally zero emission. Wow, it's sound good to me..give me one.

One catch, if you want to refuel opps..recharge prepare to wait minimum 3.5 hours. Ouch...

Read more of this Tesla Roadster

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Painful to see

Have a look at accidents involving luxury cars. I guess when money is not an object, people just drive it like it's worthless. They may have all the money in the world, but they probably can't handle the power of such car.




Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Persona unveiled as Savvy and Waja transform...




Malaysian car producer unveiled a new sedan car (actually it's a sedan version of previous Gen-2 hatchback model)called Proton Persona. The name actually is quite confusing since it had been used in the UK for Proton Wira.

It's much longer than Gen-2 because of extra car boot space that actually perfect I guess for 66L cylinder gas.

Proton expecting 4,000 cars per month for Persona and it's hoping to recouping previous model that not really up to the mass market taste such as Waja, Gen-2 and Savvy.

So, what they going to do with them, so quick and fast move is to remodel the whole thing like what they did to Satria Neo.

What to see a sneak preview of this HOT new remodel Waja and Savvy. Here it goes...


Savvy now comes with a lot of extra features NOT available to other cars. Handy in tight situation such as trapping in a very long traffic jam.


The mighty powerful WAJA. Ready for a battle..watch out ROAD BULLIES.

Merry-goes-around and around and around....

Have you ever cme across a roundabout. I guess, everyone had one. But have you seen this kind of roundabout. It's called "Magic Roundabout".

Don't be confused with the Magic Roundabout; the children's television series although the name inspired from that . It's a real thing in Swindon, England. It was constructed in 1972.

Remember if you are in England, why not go to Swindon and experience the "magic of a humble roundabout". After all, it's the most practical and simplest innovation that really works!

Look at the signboard. The Magic Roundabout.


Cars go around and around.


What a view


Get to know the whole story.

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Band new MPV with NGV conversion kit.

Brand new NGV Naza Ria and Citra.

Naza Automotive Manufacturing Sdn Bhd manager Mohamad Shalan Hassan said the company had spent the last six months developing prototype variants of the Naza Ria and Naza Citra – dubbed NGV Naza Ria and NGV Naza Citra.



“The NGV Naza Ria's 150-litre capacity can offer a mileage of 346.5km based on a 11km per litre consumption rate,” he said, adding that the consumer version of the NGV Ria had a 70-litre capacity that could last about 161.7km.

More from The Star.


Naza Ria 2.5 A GS Model RM 103,888.00
Naza Ria 2.5 A SE Model RM 109,888.00
Naza Ria 2.5 A NGV Model RM 107,888.00

If you want one click on this.

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Natural-gas-powered bicycle

We have motorcycle powered by natural gas. Now, have you heard about bicyle powered by natural gas. I know you must be thinking of these...Now look at these, is this the bicycle powered by natural gas?



Of course not, it's a picture of a boy stealing natural gas in China. You never know, there's one somewhere in this world.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

From ethanol to compressed natural gas

The journey of Brazil in enhancing their natural resources to be used in their vehicle is not new.

A desire to reduce dependency to imported petrol lets them to be creative with what they already have.

Brazil, however, has seen it all before. In the mid-1970s, the government initiated the “Proalcool” programme to convert sugar cane into ethanol with the aim of becoming the first country in the world to convert to renewable fuel.

Its motives were the same as in America today — independence from imported oil — but the reasons were entirely economic rather than due to concerns over security of supply or the environment.

It was a happy coincidence that Brazil’s ethanol-powered cars produced 50% less greenhouse gases than equivalent petrol engines.

Sales of ethanol cars dropped to almost zero by 1997 and stayed that way until the idea was revived in 2003 when oil prices started to rise again.

This time the ethanol cars had an important difference: “flexi-fuel”. Today’s models can run on both petrol and ethanol. A computer control unit detects what kind of fuel is in use and adjusts the engine accordingly. It was developed in Brazil by Magneti Marelli, the electronic-component company that is part of Fiat.

The government’s new idea is to promote CNG (compressed natural gas). Brazil has large reserves of natural gas and access to further supplies from neighbouring Bolivia.

CNG is cheap — the cost per kilometre is less than half that of petrol and alcohol.

Magneti Marelli has risen to the challenge with its Tetrafuel system. This is a single-engine, electronic-control unit that can detect and automatically switch between CNG and liquid fuel which can be 100% petrol, 100% ethanol, or any combination of the two.

Page 1 from Times Online


Page 2

Have a look at Magneti Marelli TetraFuel Technology

Drastic measure

Is is a bit strange that although Iran is no.2 oil producer in OPEC, it seems that it has low supply of it in its own country.

Gangs of youths torched petrol stations and long queues developed at pumps in Tehran after the Iranian Government announced the start of fuel rationing, causing the kind of violent protests rarely seen in the Islamic Republic.

In the past, cheap pump prices have encouraged such widespread consumption that, despite its huge oil production rate, Iran has ironically been forced to spend billions of dollars each year importing petrol.

More on Times Online

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

My Green Families

Actually this is the basic things that make up a conversion kit to use compressed natural gas.

This is my 66-litre steel tank


My solenoid valve link to a fuel selector switch next to my steering wheel.



And this one is a refuelling valve. You fit in a refuelling nozzle to it at the gas station.

Last but not least, gas regulator. It regulates the gas pressure from high pressure (about 200 psi in compressed gas in the tank to atmosphere pressure, I think).


There's another one that is not shown here, a mixer or injector. This one mix gas with air and feed it to the carburettor (in case of mine) before going into the combustion chamber.


Don't do it like me

I just came back from refuelling my car at my nearest station. My indicator showed red light but I still believed that I can make it to the station.

Half way there, my car started showing like there no more gas left. So, I parked my car at the roadside and switched to petrol.

The loss of power was so sudden that luckily not many car on the road. Imagine your are in a busy road and no way to park your car. Trouble is coming your way...

It was about 10 km on petrol when I got to the station. RM 10.48 for 211 km which is about 5 cents per 1 km.

Not bad compared to about 30 cents per km on petrol I guess. Next week I'm gonna use petrol for a whole week and compare the consumption of petrol and gas.

I'll tell you about it later on.


Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Gasoline or petrol as an engine lubricator

Ever wonder why my installer advised me to let the car spend overnight over petrol, now I know the answer. It's because the nature of gas.
Technically, CNG engines are not that different from gasoline or diesel ones.

“There’s a little bit of modification because the fuel is dry, being a gas,” said Dan Masood, an instructor in alternative fuels at the New England Institute of Technology.

“It’s not a liquid so it hasn’t the lubricating qualities like gasoline and diesel.” Differences include hardened valves and a higher compression ratio because of the 130 octane level, he said.

CNG is about 95 percent methane, which burns very efficiently.

McClanaghan said it was far cleaner than other petroleum-based fuels, even clean diesel. “You open up an engine [after thousands of miles] and it’s perfectly clean,” she said.

“CNG is one of the simplest hydrocarbons,” said Masood.

The combustion process basically produces carbon dioxode, but about 40 percent less of it than gasoline, and water.

Some of the nitrogen from the air used in combustion is turned into nitrogen oxide, or Nox, but if the cylinders are kept below a certain temperature much of the nitrogen comes out unaffected, he said.

More from Projo


Friday, July 20, 2007

Top of the world

Last time, I mentioned about natural gas for vehicle (NGV) in Asia Pacific Region.

However, in the world ranking, Argentina is on the top of the list with 1,650,000 vehicles and 1,640 refuelling stations (May 07).

Next is Brazil with 1,357,239 vehicles with 1,410 stations.

Third is Pakistan followed with Italy.

Source: International Association for Natural Gas Vehicles


Thursday, July 19, 2007

Another interesting stats…

Look at these:
















































































CountryNo of vehicleNo of refueling station
Pakistan1,300,0001,230 April 2007
India334,820325 October 2006
Iran292,455203 June 2007
China127,120253 October 2006
Bangladesh80,000129 Jan 2007
Japan30,469311 Jan 2007
Malaysia22,60042 October 2006
Thailand21,79976 October 2006
Korea11,578107 October 2006
Indonesia6,60017 July 2005
Singapore2381 June 2006
Phillipines363 June 2006

As you can see in Asia Pacific region, Pakistan, India and Iran are the top three while Malaysia is the middle player in NGV.

Source: Asia Pacific Natural Gas Vehicles Association (ANGVA)

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Or if you fancy a motorcycle on gas...

Not to left behind, you can buy a motorcycle using a natural gas


These are China-made bikes with 1 full tank of natural gas can go for 100 km (7 L water capacity tank).

Of course it has petrol tank as well (1.5L petrol tank? This one you must ask the manufacturer , if 1.5 L times RM 1.92.= RM 2.88 full tank….why it is so small).

The top bike looks like in the 70’s…I remember Dahlan Zainuddin posing with it on his cassette's cover.

Interested, place an order with this Chinease Factory.

New car on gas...

I you want a brand new car that comes with conversion kit and look beautiful, Look at this;
As the only passenger car in the country to be powered by natural gas, the 2007 Honda Civic GX, produces near zero emissions and continues to be the "earth's cleanest certified internal combustion engine".

Yours from USD 25,000.00

More info from Honda Dealer or 'Alternative Fuel Vehicles Resource

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Some interesting facts that I think we all should know

Let see some facts about NGV particularly in Malaysia

• 20% reduction in CO2 emission

• 15% less power in NGV

• Air cleanliness is very important in NGV compared to petrol; “Engine Air Fuel Ratio at idle is affected by air filter cleanliness on NGV mode”

• In Malaysia, Gas Production: 5 billion cubic feet per day and Gas Reserve: 89 trillion cubic feet (2003)

• NGV best suited to fully warmed engine. (That explained to difficulty to start in the morning)

• On Engine cleanliness; “Generally better combustion chamber and carburettor cleanliness but slightly more inlet valve deposit. However this does not affect the
engine operation.”

• Common conversion kit brands: Tartarini, Landi Renzo, Lovato, Tomasetto, Oyrsa, Gaspetrol & Pelmag

Source: Mengat, J., et al Asian Petroleum Technology Symposium
January 18-20, 2006

News from Petronas Dagangan

I read that Petronas at the moment have 52 stations with compressed natural gas refuelling stations.

From Berita Harian dated 10 July 2007:
Petronas Dagangan ketika ini mengendalikan 852 stesen minyak dengan 59 daripadanya dilengkapi kemudahan gas asli cecair (LNG).

More from Berita Harian

Interestingly 58% of their profit comes from retailing NOT from selling petrol or petroleum-related items.

From what I know there's only 42 stations as mentioned in my previous post.
I don't know about the other 17, may be there are still in construction.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Things you need to know that people not always tell you

Summary of my experience so far.

1. It’s not really suitable for you, the young or young-at-heart racer…No power at all.

They say 5% less (I don’t know how they figure it) but for me it’s like eternity waiting it to really GO from 0.

I can feel that drivers behind me start swearing already. I’m also swearing lah…Come on car

2. Thing that people don’t tell you is YOU have to refuel it everyday or twice a day if you run a long distance.

It’s not because NGV consume more but the tank is limited. It’s really a hassle.

You have to queue with taxis and have a lot of patience. Go for as bigger tank as you can fit in your car.

3. The actual refueling process takes time.

Longer than petrol I must say. RM 10.00 on petrol takes about 1 mins, RM 10.00 NGV takes about say 5 mins.

4. Good for nature. Pretty good combustion rate compared to petrol as they say.

I’m not sure really since I’m using it because of it saves money later nature.

5. I was told the lubricant stay clean longer i.e can stretch to 10,000 km service.

I don’t know about it, I tell you whether it’s true or not when the time comes.

6. Although there are increasing no. of NGV refueling station, you still have to print the address of nearest station when you are out of your familiarize area.

However, don’t worry and don’t panic when your LED light turns red, simply switch to no 1 or petrol.

# From my experience, better turn the switch on the roadside (not during the traffic jam with a long queue behind you).

It takes some time for the engine to get used to petrol. If not the engine start jerking or engine cut off during idling. It’s happen to me.

Good for commute to work. Why waste money.


Friday, July 6, 2007

Latest NGV news.....from Iran

I just read that Iran will enforced a new rule that EVERY new car will be fitted with conversion kit to use compressed natural gas (CNG) and petrol.
Iran has announced that it will stop producing purely petrol-driven cars and produce more dual-fuel vehicles, which also run on gas.

The minister of industries said the production of petrol-only cars would stop in just over two weeks' time.

Read more on BBC NEWS

Burning questions....

What is NGV?

NGV stands for ‘Natural Gas for Vehicle’. It stands for vehicle using CNG or rarely in some other countries LNG (liquefied Natural Gas).

CNG is the same as LNG except it’s in a liquid form.

In Malaysia, NGV uses CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and I was told it’s not the same as our cooking gas LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas).

After some digging in the net, I found out that CNG is made by compressing methane (CH4) extracted from natural gas (gaseous form) while LPG made from mainly propane mix with butane and it is in liquid form.

Please note that LPG can also be used as a substitute to petrol. In UK, it is called Autogas


I'm about to running out of gas....where's the station

Where to find your nearest NGV refueling station, ask your installer or

Look at Petronas Dagangan site

Klang Valley (Selangor and WP) - 33 stations
Negeri Sembilan – 2 stations
Johor – 5 stations
Penang – 1 station
Malacca – 1 station


Thursday, July 5, 2007

Fit or not

Thursday

I on my way to work on red light remaining on NGV. I think I can still make it to the nearest NGV station (my usual station).

Half way there, I can feel that the car having less than normal power, so quickly I pull over to the road side and switch to no 1 i.e petrol.

Having a bad experience last time switching in the middle on the road. I decided not this time.

First I turn to 0. The engine quickly cut off. Switch to no. 2. Turn the key on, nothing. So I have to press the pedal first (let the fuel go in) and turn the key.

The engine starts but I have to ramp it for a few minutes, if not the engine will cut off when idling. As if the let the petrol to get used to the system.

After some times, I decided to continue my journey (join back the traffic jam). I’m still have to rev the engine if not it will cut off. Luckily I’m in the middle on slow moving traffic jam, I can turn the gear to neutral and ramp the engine.

At last, I arrived at the NGV station, and go straight to the pump. (not much taxis). In this station, there’s only 4 refuel stations.

I fit the gas nozzle to my ngv connecting valve and waits for the atttendent to release the gas. Then I turn the gas.

During the refueling, I saw one taxi next to me trying to fit the gas head to his taxi but fail to do so, then he reverse the taxi and try the other one and it fits.

When I ask the lady attending the fuel pump, she said that that taxi just replacing the gas inlet point.

Mmmmm,there an incompatibility problem I think...I should remember this to ask my installer about it.

Friday, June 29, 2007

Late starter..

Friday

As usual early in the morning, the car is not easy to start.

Now, I try pressing half way the accelerator, switch on and cranking. It’s works to start the engine, I have to ramp it for about 5 to 10 minutes before leave it idling.

The car has less jerking as yesterday. However, the engine still cut off when I’m reversing from my house though not as many as yesterday.

When I’m arrived at my office, only one green light still on, so I guess I need to refuel it later today.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Gentlemen, start your engine..ooops NO I can't start mine

Thursday,

This morning as everyday since using NGV, starting the engine is the most annoying thing.

First of all, you cannot start straightaway without ramp it.

I just read from Internet that I have to press the accelerator half way down, switch on ignition (light come out) then switch it on completely.

I tried it this morning and it works. However, the engine still cut off when idling. The engine jerking as if the timing is set at low. So when reversing, when I’m not pressing the accelerator, it cut off.

Fortunately, once on the main roads, the problem disappear.

Yesterday morning, I try different method. First, I switch to petrol, run it for few minutes, switch to O and let the petrol runs out.

Switch to 2, start engine. I found that when on NGV no jerking or engine cut off during idling.

Honestly, I prefer start up using NGV, after all that the option that I made. May be, there another way to start easily using NGV.

On my way back to work, no problem at all.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Bifuel, hybrid car....I'm using one.

My car having converted to use natural gas is now can be called a bifuel car or maybe hybrid car.

My Proton Wira Aeroback can use either gas or petrol but not both in the same time.

Since it emits less carbon dioxide,so it also a bit of green car .

Now I know

LATEST NEWS:

Info that I got from Wikipedia after looking in the internet to satisfy my curious mind;

“The reason this is not becoming widely available is because CNG takes a lot more space to store than gasoline.

Even though it is a compressed gas, rather than a liquid like gasoline, it takes up more space for each GGE (Gallon of Gas Equivalent).”

More at Wikipedia

My conclusion:

At high pressure of 200 psi. for my 66 L tank, only about 22.8 % of CNG can be put in the tank.

Another thing is 66 litres tank correspond to water equivalent.

Where the rest gone...

Tuesday

I went to Serdang through highway back and forth.

Normally I spent about RM50 for petrol, now I just use RM 10 (i.e full NGV tank). I’m actually really pelik, since my NGV tank suppose to be full at 66 L. 66 L X RM 0.68 = RM 44.88

When I first fuel it (from empty, since I cannot start using NGV so it safe to presume it’s really empty), I only managed RM 10.13 which means that for RM 0.68 sen per litre equates to about 14.9 litres only woo.

So where is that 51.1 litre goes to….

Monday, June 25, 2007

Red light alert

Mon.

This is my third day of using NGV. This is also my first day of me driving my newly converted car to work. Well, as early as 6:30 am,

I had difficulty in starting my engine. I have to ramp it to make it stay idle. So the engine stop several times when I’m trying to reversing my car.

Well, it’s so frustrating since I’m used to start my engine and directly reversing and go go go….

On my way to work, however, all working smoothly, even during accelerating in the PLUS Highway. Just now, when I arrived at my work place, only 3 lights still on, So 1 light per one way journey to work, Therefore, I think 2 lights per day. I need to refuel once every 2 day if my journey only commuting from work to home.

However today, I went to Serdang then back to my office. After work, on my way back to my house in Rawang, I noticed red LCD light comes on (after last green light). It's an indicator that the gas is about to finish.


Still with red LCD on, I’m desperately trying to find the nearest NGV station and if I can't I have to switch to using petrol.


Sunday, June 24, 2007

My first time refueling gas.

Sunday.

My wife drove my car to Giant for monthly shopping. About 500 meters to my house, the car cut its engine. No gas left. So, I asked her to switch to no1. which was petrol.

On the way to the fuel station, using petrol, the car's pick up was so fantastic considering I’m driving using gas since saturday.

You felt good about it when on petrol compared to NGV. You were like in a mercy of others, hopeless since pick up using NGV was slow or rather pathetic. I floored the accelerator to the ground, nothing happened until few seconds later.

I went to a petrol station in Selayang for refueling . So, this is my first time refueling my car with NGV.

It’s really weird since I’m the only non-taxi car in the queue. At 8 o’clock at night, not many taxis waiting in line in fact only one taxi infront of me. So, it took me about 5 mins waiting.

When it came to my turn, I opened my hood or bonnet and waited for the lady refueller. She expected me to put the gas valve myself, So, I just said to her that I’m a newbie and she did everthing for me.

RM 10.13 for full tank i.e 66L. So I had to pay RM 10.20 (round up price)


New addition to the car

The gas head. You fit a gas nozzle or connector when you refuel the gas in the NGV refueling station.


This is my 66-litre CNG gas tank on the back of my car. Obviously it take up almost half of boot capacity.




Saturday, June 23, 2007

My first driving experience on NGV

I'm really pretty excited about having my car converted to use compressed natural gas (CNG).

When I'm first driving it home from the workshop,I'm quickly realized that the car is sort of underpower. Pickup is so much reduced compared to driving on petrol.

Reaching home, proudly I'm showing off to my wife, in-law, and others the newly converted car.

I opened the bonnet and boot. Obviously, the gas tank was the main attraction. There it was, right in the centre of the boot.

My sister-in-law's husband mentioned that the engine's sound is much more quiet than running on petrol.

I just cannot wait to drive it to my office on Monday.

My Wira goes green...

I recently installed an NGV converstion kit to my old Proton Wira Aeroback. Let me tell you how it is doing...

A start of an adventure...

I received a call from my NGV installer at around 11 am saying that my car is ready to be pick up.

I’m pretty excited to go and try it myself the driving experience of NGV. Unfortunately, I’m still have to wait for my brother-in-law with his wife and child to be ready. They are going shopping.

RM3,100 for the whole package. I opted for 66L tank. I was briefed on how to operate NGV vehicle.

Switching from NGV to petrol is easy simply switching from 2 to 1 . However from petrol to NGV is a different story. You have to switch to 0 first than ramp it as to burn out existing petrol than wait for the engine cut off or you hear the petrol about to finish, switch to 2. Press your accelerator to continue using it.

Now the adventure begins...

Friday, June 22, 2007

I made my decision..

I made my decision.....Convert my car to use Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

About 4 o’clock, I sent my car to the workshop to be fitted with NGV conversion kit. I was also informed that I need to change my timing belt plus my radiator since it really need replacing. So I agreed to all that.

Now waiting time begins...


Thursday, June 21, 2007

First step - Get a quotation and think about it

I went to see an NGV-installing workshop in Batu Caves to ask for a quotation for my Wira curburateor 1996 model.

My relatives driving a taxi using NGV recommending this place and said that it is among the best qualified installer as far as he known of.

The workshop manager gives me a quotation to think about. It even can arranged for a loan from Bank Rakyat. My Wira considering it is an old model turn out to be the cheapest one to convert.