Featured Raleigh to Detroit on one tank of gas?

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by mikefocke, Oct 17, 2025 at 12:07 PM.

  1. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    So today I was having my propane backup heating system serviced ... really a fireplace. I went out to get the paper and noticed a car similar to mine sitting in the driveway. It seemed a bit odd from the side but what didn't register immediately so I went around the back and found it was a hybrid but with a Propane sticker under the model designation. Went to the side and took this picture. Come to find out the company has all their vehicles converted and you start the car normally and once the engine is warm you hit a button and convert to propane. Tank is in the spare tire well so you give up something. Has an additional gauge telling you how much propane you have left. So a tri-power hybrid. Now what abbreviation do we use?
     

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  2. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    Not EV news for sure.

    Cheap and easy ad hoc butane/propane LPG conversions used to be very popular and common decades ago in some countries with high gasoline taxes, as LPG wasn’t taxed because it fueled kitchens. The downside: They are dangerous and can explode. The security guards would check your trunk when entering shopping malls to make sure that you didn’t have an LPG tank in your trunk and end up blowing the mall.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    680 miles, hycam would almost make it
     
  4. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    If they were so dangerous, you'd think the insurance costs for the business would be so high that any benefits would be cancelled. I asked about that and the driver said that each kit was certified against a specific car.

    Autogas Safety - Alliance AutoGas



    A local bus system has converted to running entirely on biogas from the local sewage treatment plants.
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i've never heard of a propane car exploding
     
  6. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    paper what. Wait - you mean newsprint? Someone still does that?
    Had to do a propane conversion years ago - due to the prior owner removing all smog equipment off the van I purchased from him. Straight propane burns really clean - so much so that even in California at the time - straight propane was exempt from smog inspections & at ownership transfers. But ONLY if it's straight propane. Dual fuel didn't get a free pass - smog exempt-wise.
    AND - a couple other fun facts. It was explained to me that propane gets worse mileage then running on gasoline. Found that to be true as mileage dropped in the van from 13 to 10 MPG. But back then propane was less expensive than gas - which more than compensated for the difference.
    Nowadays? I don't get it - but propane seems to be on par with gas prices. That would make it a net loser other than it's VERY very clean burning. The oil could easily go over 10K miles & still look new - like the color of honey.
    Lastly, gasoline/propane dual fuel plumbing systems worsens the gasoline mpg.
    Wondering if all these negatives are why you seldom if ever hear of someone running dual fuel in a highway vehicle.

    Yea - stuff happens
    Man Forgets He Has a Propane Tank In His Car and Lights Cigarette, Causing Explosion - Newsweek
    Not really different from gassers blowing up other than it's a minority of Highway vehicles running on propane.
    .
     
    #6 hill, Oct 17, 2025 at 1:46 PM
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2025 at 1:58 PM
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i still get the nyt fri/sat/sun, i hope they don't kill it before i die
     
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  8. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    Are you going out to get it or kids (not goats:cool:) still delivering them?:whistle:
     
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  9. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    It's Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    no kids anymore. i suspect they are brazillian profesional newspaper delivery services, but idk for sure.
    what do kids do to earn money these days? they don't mow lawns or shovel snow (n)
     
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  11. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    They're called parents or grand-parents. kids now-a-days are called basement dwellers or influencers/vloggers.
    Some that make it out of the womb, get a humanities degree and attain the high status of barista!!!!!o_O:D:LOL::ROFLMAO::whistle:

    I'm just kidding, but some of my closest friends are appalled that their kid would have to get a job, before they get their 10-year journey towards a humanities degree. Kinda dumbfounded since a few of them worked by my side in high school at the same fast food joint????

    What are you going to do when ICE catches up with your NYT delivery person????:(:confused::oops: I did that too in high school.....
     
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  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yeah, that could be a problem. you can't buy newspapers retail anymore, at least around here.
    i do get the digital, but being old, i still take great satisfaction with morning coffee and the real mccoy.
    i spend enough screen time on priuschat :D
     
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  13. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Funny memory from the men's Disney employee bathroom - circa 1980's where there was maybe 7 or 8 stalls against one wall. You could hear the newspapers rustling. LOL
    Cigarette stench too? Not so funny a memory.