New Volkswagen Golf BiFuel Debuts in Bologna

1,100km range possible

Volkswagen Golf BiFuel

by Thami Masemola
December 3, 2008 10:12 PM
Filed Under: Alternative Fuel, German, Green, Volkswagen

After the Golf Plus MkVI another Volkswagen Golf variant has made its world premier at the Bologna Motor Show. Golf BiFuel 1.6-litre is powered by a dual-powered engine that runs on both petrol and liquified petroleum gas (LPG). The car represents VW's first ever factory-installed LPG system. VW says as a result of being tested thoroughly and of course fully supported by them, it's much more durable and reliability is virtually guaranteed.

More importantly for VW is that in LPG mode the car emits up to 10 percent fewer CO2 gases. In this mode the 72kW / 98 PS engine averages 9.2 litres of LPG per 100km, with a 149 g/km CO2 emissions figure. That works out to about 6.38 EUR per 100km in Germany. Switching to petrol mode the Golf BiFuel returns 7.1 litres of unleaded per 100km, CO2 emissions are 169 g/km. Currently the cost in Germany would be 8.60 EUR.

Theoretically the Golf BiFuel has a range of 1,100 kilometres, and in pure LPG mode the range would be 420km. Not to worry; Germany has a network of 4,500 LPG filling stations.

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Comments

car-o-bar

December 3, 2008 11:31 PM

Bi-Fuel cars are very common in NewZealand, India, and some other countries. After market kits are available to convert most cars to be able to use LPG and/or CNG along with regular gas (petrol). I have driven one for many years, the problem is lack of power (compression ratio), engine takes a beating and I have seen cars coming to end of life faster than when using conventional transportation fuel (petrol). I hope VW has addressed those issues.

mortz

December 4, 2008 12:28 AM

Yes you are right LPG is very common here in NZ my mother uses it in her Holden, its very noticeable when you switch from petrol to lpg the loss of power, when i was a child back in the 80,s my parents used CNG but had to switch back to petrol for step hills etc, i never seem to come across it (CNG) these days, I'm not sure if the new direct injection engines work with LPG?? also our police cars have LPG installed buy Holden.

amade.ch

December 4, 2008 10:38 AM

yawn.

eddie

December 4, 2008 10:01 PM

We have to start somewhere and it nice so many car companies are aggressively persueing alternative forms of energy. We have to stop buying from the BAD GUYS. The cars now adays are too powerful anyway. That is from a guy that has a Lamborghini. Most cars are fast enough.

WildMaverick1200

December 5, 2008 7:36 PM

Cool. I could fill it up with a little hose from my kitchen.

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