Dacia, the only automaker offering Bi-Fuel variants in its entire range, has suspended offering LPG-burning models from the UK market due to ongoing problems with the liquefied petroleum gas supply chain.
The company has stopped accepting orders for Sandero and Duster Bi-Fuel, the only new models compatible with LPG fuel in the UK, and has not given a timeline for when they will be available again.
See also: Dacia pays attention to availability, it doesn’t necessarily work with electricity.
This was reported by a representative of Dacia Car: “Currently, the LPG supply chain is facing problems that cause industrial shortages. Dacia will suspend orders for ECO-G engine versions of certain models.
According to the publication, there is a mass shortage of liquefied natural gas in the UK due to the shortage of drivers after the pandemic and additional supply issues caused by the war in Ukraine. The number of LPG filling stations in the UK has fallen sharply from about 1,400 to 368 in the last two years. In addition, the price of LPG has risen and reduced the cost compared to other types of fuel.
In Europe, Dacia still offers two fuel options, the Sandero, Sandero Stepway, Jogger and Duster, as cheaper alternatives to the petrol and diesel range. All Bi-Fuel models are equipped with a three-cylinder turbocharged 1.0 TCe engine that can run on both petrol and liquefied gas, which is offered in the Renault Clio and Captur. When running on LPG, the engine produces 99 hp. (74 kW / 100 PS) and 170 Nm (125.4 lb-ft) of torque, which is slightly more than when working with gasoline. Power is supplied to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.
The use of LPG leads to a significant reduction in the cost of refueling compared to gasoline or diesel, and CO2 emissions are slightly lower. Unlike the CNG (compressed natural gas) models of the VW group, which have a very small fuel capacity for emergencies, the Bi-Fuel models store an ordinary gas tank along with additional liquid gas tanks installed under the load. Thus, together with the two fuels, they have a combined distance of more than 620 miles (998 km).
