Natural gas-powered rally cars

[Markko]

Hi all,

I found a very interesting article about natural gas-powered rally car.

http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Rally+driving+against+climate+change/1135234368735

Jani Paasonen and Manfred Stohl has been testing natural gas-powered Mistubishi in Finland and its sounds to be great option for the future perhaps.

BR,

Tango Team motorsport

[paxtech]

It's nice to see the Lancer Evolution retrofitted to use natural gas. Here's another news about Manfred Stohl's CNG Lancer Evo: http://paxtech.blogspot.com/2007/07/rallying-mitsubishi-evo-vi-using.html

[PLuto]

I dont think so. In Austria they are trying to make "natural safe" rally cars for a long time, but nobody is interested in it...

[Karbonyl]

PLuto, it'a all the same thing. The gas-Evo VI was born as a protoype in 2006 and last year they built up also newer Evo IX. You think it's long time? :)

But I agree, that the Austrian are pioneers, they have also natural gas powered Golf IV Kit Car.

[hari]

In Austria we have serveral natural gas powered rallycars:

VW Golf IV Kitcar:
http://www.ir7.at/Fotos/2007/bosch/g/h11.html

VW Golf 5:
http://www.ir7.at/Fotos/2007/bosch/g/h115.html

Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VI:
http://www.ir7.at/fotos/2006/w4/g/h43.html

Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX:
http://www.ir7.at/Fotos/2007/bp/g/h96.html

[Koppomsbo]

do they compete in their own class?

[urabus-denoS2000]

I think they do

[SubaruNorway]

How often do they have to reefuel?

[hari]

do they compete in their own class?

Yes they compete in their own class, but could also compete in the same class like the petrol-powered cars if they meet some technical requirements (like the VW Golf IV Kitcar in class A7)

[Brother John]

Drivers schould eat a lot of beans, they can reefuel the car by themself! :D

[DonJippo]

Drivers schould eat a lot of beans, they can reefuel the car by themself! :D

That would be classified as doping, don't you think ;)

[Mirek]

Koppomsbo: The CNG Lancers don't have restrictors for example. And that is very good reason not to add them in any existing class. I don't think that gas filled pressure cylinders are safe enough for rallying as well.

[miksu]

Drivers schould eat a lot of beans, they can reefuel the car by themself! :D

that would look kinda disturbing at the service park area...

[Zico]

Assuming they are also subject to the same restrictor regulations I'd be interested to know how the bhp/torque figures compare with normal fuel. We used to have an LPG converted VW years ago.. iirc it was aprox 10-20% down on power, when it went for its 1st routine oil/filter change after the conversion the mechanic was amazed... The oil still looked like new.

[Karbonyl]

How often do they have to reefuel?The refueling is the same like at ordinary powered rally cars.

[DonJippo]

]I don't think that gas filled pressure cylinders are safe enough for rallying as well.

That is my concern as well otherwise I don't see a problem with this concept.

[sollitt]

There was a CNG powered Toyota Corolla in the 1980 Rally New Zealand.
It performed very well with the very experienced crew.
Most interesting thing about the car was that they hooked a gas cooker up to the car for the sausage and egg breakfasts on the cold mornings.

[OldF]

Mirek Fric [Cze]I don't think that gas filled pressure cylinders are safe enough for rallying as well.


That is my concern as well otherwise I don't see a problem with this concept.

Manfreds comment in the article:

"We set a car on fire in Austria, and the gas did not explode. The safety valve takes care of that. It lets the gas out in a controlled manner, and it burns in a controlled manner as well.”

But I must say that I wouldn’t feel comfortable in a "gas car".


I read the article from the newspaper and Manfred told that the car has 280 hp.

For some people motor sports have always been a thorn in they flesh :devil: so IMO it would be good if the motor sport world would be a pioneer in this issue and the bio fuel doesn’t necessary have to be natural gas.

This is what the managing editor Olli Koivusalo of motor sport magazine VM wrote in his latest leader.

“Although everyone one knows that worldwide all the farts from the cows produces more greenhouse gases than all the private motoring – not to mention motor sport – not a single cow would allow a catalyser in it’s bottom; the ecological change has to start from where it’s really possible.”

[Mirek]

Well, but I don't think CNG is real eco-fuel. People forget that it needs a lot of other energy to be compressed. And it's burning in racing engine produceses a lot of NOx.

OldF: We saw Manfred in Waldviertel and despite the car is reasonably heavier than standard petrol Evo 9, it was definitely stronger.

[J4MIE]

As long as the cars are loud enough then I don't have a problem. It's the quiet diesels that scare me...

[Mirek]

J4MIE: Lancer is almost as quiet as diesels if You remove ALS...

[Brother John]

That is my concern as well otherwise I don't see a problem with this concept.

I am not certain if the gascylinders are still a problem these days.
In the Netherlands you find already more than 20 years a lot of cars with gas filled pressure cylinders, in trafic!

[hari]

Soundwise here are two videos:

VW Golf IV Kitcar:
http://www.ir7.at/w4/videos2007/1/13.mpg

Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX:
http://www.ir7.at/w4/videos2007/6/1.mpg

[Daniel]

]Well, but I don't think CNG is real eco-fuel. People forget that it needs a lot of other energy to be compressed. And it's burning in racing engine produceses a lot of NOx.

OldF: We saw Manfred in Waldviertel and despite the car is reasonably heavier than standard petrol Evo 9, it was definitely stronger.
Also the fact that it's not a renewable source of gas.

I don't really see it being a safety feature. They've been in use on the roads for ages plus if there is a fire you're probably going to be out of the car or dead :erm: before the gas cylinder goes.

[Brother John]

And another problem is the temperature and to lubricate the engine with GAS combustion! I blown my 6 cylinder engine Opel Commadore once with driving on gas! :( :s mokin:

[urabus-denoS2000]

As long as the cars are loud enough then I don't have a problem. It's the quiet diesels that scare me...

I have been on two rallies in Austria last year and I can tell you it sounds preety much the same.

[Daniel]

And another problem is the temperature and to lubricate the engine with GAS combustion! I blown my 6 cylinder engine Opel Commadore once with driving on gas! :( :s mokin:
So you like gas in your beer but not in your car ;)

[Brother John]

So you like gas in your beer but not in your car ;) Nice to have none gas in Jack Daniels! :D