I agree and have never understood why people trying to save a few quid on running costs over the last few decades didn't choose petrol/LPG.In cities like London black cabs & buses should have switched to LPG as well.
It must be due to lobbyists that the current situation has been allowed to happen, as anybody in the know has always known diesel was a very bad choice.
Don't forget mij that diesel fuel contains more energy per litre than petrol and LPG:
Diesel: 35.8MJ/l
Petrol: 32.4MJ/l
LPG: 26MJ/L
This means that the same volume of fuel will get you further using diesel than LPG even if fuel economy is identical.
If you're a taxi driver you want to be carrying fare paying passengers for as long as possible not spending time refuelling. I admit that I have no idea how often a black cab has to refuel though!
I don't think refuelling in London for a cab is a concern (even south of the river data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7), I'm also sure a nice big LPG tank could easily be fitted to a cab.
Thanks Delanoster, very interesting.
FWIW LPG is far more common in Australia particularly for taxis and buses. Private cars are pretty common as well though and most convert so they have both petrol and LPG available. The LPG is commonly available in cities and towns where the majority of the population lives and availability only becomes an issue if you head into the centre. You can still buy factory fitted LPG cars though from some makers and some models and the advantage then is the tank(s) are fitted into the existing available space and don't take up boot or passenger space compared to a conversion.
Hybrid also becoming popular for some taxis and again a big advantage that the boot isn't filled with an LPG tank after conversion.
I just checked, there are two LPG places within four miles of me (outskirts of Bristol).
Yep and that is pretty poor if you were to take the plunge in some ways. In Canberra every service station has LPG as does every station between here and Sydney and Melbourne and all civilisation near enough in between...... That is when people and manufacturers get confident to fit and use the fuel.
Diesel drivers saving the Cash/Planet. Killing the Children?
Sorry for quoting my own post.... A small edit would get lost, so just to correct a technical slip of the finger above - the buses run on compressed natural gas (CNG or methane) and not LPG (propane the most common and the one usually referred to as fuel for cars and barbecues etc). Refuelling for CNG not such a public thing - in fact rarer than hens teeth data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
I am sure that could be easily improved on with the right backing/support, and a conversion could still use petrol.
Watch out for a massive increase in electric charging points over the next few years, this could of happened with LPG.