Bolivia launches CNG Vehicle Conversion Program with sequential injection kits

Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Energy Statement

This is an automated translation of the original press release issued in Spanish

UCOM-MHE-EEC-GNV-05-19-2022.- With the aim of continuing with the change in the energy matrix and responding to the demand of the transport sector, the Minister of Hydrocarbons and Energy, Franklin Molina Ortiz, and the Executive General Director of the Executing Entity for the Conversion to Natural Gas for Vehicles (EEC-GNV), Karina Villacorta, launched yesterday Wednesday the “Natural Gas for Vehicles (NGV) Conversion Program with Sequential Injection Kits (5th Generation). With this technology, any vehicle, even modern ones, can be converted to CNG without losing power, so its operation will be similar to that of a gasoline car.

“Through a joint effort between the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Energy and the EEC-GNV, this management has acquired 11,000 Kits with an investment of more than Bs3 million to acquire this technology that can be applied in modern vehicles with electronic injection, for the benefit of the public and private transportation”, expressed Molina.

For his part, Villacorta explained that this new technology, applied for the first time in Bolivia, allows the different electric fuel sensors of the engine to remain unchanged, since they are adjustable by means of computer software. This enables the sequential injection system for CNG to have the ability to inject the exact amount of gas when the engine is revving to optimize the performance that it requires, maintaining the power of the vehicle as if it were running on gasoline.

There are two categories of CNG conversion kits that are applied with this sequential injection technology (5th Generation): one for Low-Medium cylinder vehicles, whose engines have a power of 90 to 180 horsepower (hp), and a second for cars with Medium-High displacement engines, which have engines from 181 hp to 240 hp. This means that even medium trucks can be converted to CNG.

This new technology will benefit users who have modern vehicles, even those that are the latest model, which allows more drivers to benefit from the program to save on fuel consumption, since CNG is a 60% more efficient fuel. cheaper than gasoline and less polluting. In addition, with sequential injection equipment (5th generation) total emissions are reduced by 70% compared to gasoline and 20% compared to naturally aspirated CNG equipment (3rd generation).

By 2022, it is projected to convert 15,000 vehicles to CNG with sequential injection kits, which will have an impact on the generation of direct jobs through the hiring of CNG vehicle conversion workshops which, through the acquisition of supplies and accessories, also generate jobs. indirect.

Minister Molina added that this program is the result of hard work that favors the economic savings of carriers and helps their economic reactivation, since, during the pandemic, they were affected by a confinement policy ordered by the de facto government.

To make inquiries about the installation of this new CNG conversion system, users can call the toll-free line 800-10-6505.