Introducing Japan’s 1st
LPG-Diesel Dual Fuel Truck
Cost Effective FuelLP Gas

Environmentally Friendly
Clean Diesel Engine

Fuel Diversification
In A Time Of Crisis

Lowers total fuel costs by lowering diesel consumption(BCP Option)
Add LPG components onto an
existing diesel truck

Dual Fuel Truck
Powerful & Durable

For sale in Japan only
LPG

What is a Dual Fuel Truck?
The base truck is the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter (2-3 tons) that carries
the latest clean diesel engine system. This engine delivers better fueleconomy which also means less carbon dioxide emissions. LPG (LiquefiedPetroleum Gas) tank and system parts are installed onto the diesel system
so that it can operate on a mixture of LPG and diesel fuels. LPG is injected
through the air throttle and mixed with diesel in the combustion chamber.
Then the mixed fuels are compressed and ignited.

DieselAir

LPG & Diesel Dual Truck Committee

2014 METI Subsidized Project (project relating to improving business environments for petroleum distributors)
Please contact River Furuta for more information: info@darumaenergy.com TEL: +81-3-6435-8920

Page 2The Dual Fuel Truck uses the most innovative technology
to lower fuel costs and can run on diesel fuel alone.
The LPG & Diesel Dual Truck Committee received a 50% subsidy from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Tradeand Industry to build a truck that can help truck operators lower fuel costs. Cost effectiveness was theprimary goal, and we attained this by mixing liquid fuel (diesel) and gaseous fuel (LPG) together.

Outstanding Characteristics of the Dual Fuel Truck①

Worry-free: If the truck runs out of LPG, the system can be manually switched back to the original
diesel engine system so the truck will continue to run on diesel alone. (mono-fuel ⇔ dual fuel)② Economical: Currently, diesel costs about ¥107/L while LPG costs about ¥70/L. Substituting a portionof diesel with cheaper LPG reduces total fuels costs.
③ Safe: This truck meets all vehicle standards and emissions requirements set by the Japanese
government.

Project Background

Page 3There are roughly 60,000 logistic companies nationwide, and about 90% are small to medium-sizedcompanies that operate less than 50 trucks. These companies spend 17%-38% of their yearly budget on
diesel fuel, and while CP prices are falling drastically, they will not stay low. Fuel costs will continue to be aproblem as the majority of these companies are already in the red for several consecutive years, with very
little hope for recovery. Meanwhile, LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) has become highly regarded in Japan due
to its relatively low price and positive environmental performance. Its resilient characteristics were proven in
the aftermath of the Great Tohoku Earthquake so the government is emphasizing the importance of LPG andincluded it as a vital source of energy in Japan’s Energy Policy. In Japan’s auto industry, LPG is mainly used asfuel for taxis but this market is slowly shrinking, and LPG refilling stations are shutting down one by one,spreading fears that LPG vehicles will completely disappear from Japan. This trend counteracts Japan’s
energy security measures.
Yen/L

Fuel Cost Comparison At The Pump%

Source: Oil Information Center

Page 3

How the Dual Fuel Truck Differs From Other Converted Vehicles

There are vehicles that operate on CNG, ethanol, methanol, etc. but none of them spread as widely asvehicles that operate on conventional fuel because of 2 main reasons: 1) the lack of refueling stations and2) the need to purchase a brand new vehicle that runs on that specific fuel. The Dual Fuel Truck isdifferent.
① There are adequate refilling stations for both diesel and LPG fuels (1500 stations nationwide),
but if the vehicle runs out of LPG, the system can be manually switched back to the original
diesel engine system to operate on diesel alone.
② The LPG system can be installed on your existing truck so no need to purchase another vehicle.
Page 4

Efficiency Characteristics of the Dual Fuel Truck① Diesel consumption decreases by up to 50%
The fuel ratio varies depending on the speed and load, but more LPG
can be added at higher speeds.
② Total fuel costs decrease by up to 15%
Diesel: ¥ 107/L, LPG: ¥ 70, 100 km/h in 5th gear

100% Diesel
100% Diesel

50%LPG¥ 100,000/mo.
¥ 85, 000 /mo.

③ Travel distance doubles
5.03 km/L
By carrying 2 fuel tanks, the aggregate fuel load increases, leading to9.88 km/L
longer driving distance.
④ More powerful than the original diesel truck
Mixing the fuels increased the engine torque to levels that destroy engine parts so the torque waslowered to match durability levels set by the manufacturer.
Diesel Only Modekm

RPMkm/hKw0582698
2700
2700

75.7
75.7
75.8

32.9
32.7
32.7

Int.Mani. Exhaust℃
℃
18059
470
179
55496
178
52494kpa

Diesel Consumed: 1990 cc

Water℃
7984
84

Fuel Efficiency: 5.03 km/L

Dual Fuel Modekm

RPMkm/hKw0582710
2700
2700

75.9
76.8
75.8

32.9
33.1
32.8

Diesel Consumed: 1012 cc
LPG Consumed: 1019.6 cc

Int.Mani. Exhaust℃℃
148
50487
14544491
144
45485
kpa

Water℃
8082
82

Fuel Efficiency: 9.88 km/L
Fuel Efficiency: 9.81 km/L

Test Conditions• Distance: 10 km• Speed: 80 km/h in 4th gear
• Load: 1500 N• Atmospheric Pressure: 100.5• Temperature: 10℃• Humidity: 40%• Weather: Sunny

Fuel Efficiency Increased
197%
Diesel Consumption Decreased
49.1%

Page 5

Data Accuracy

Fuel efficiency rates calculated merely with data taken from actual test drives are too inaccurate. We
used the same equipment major automakers and the Japanese government uses to test vehicles. Joto
Garage tested the vehicle on using a chassis dynamometer that is installed on their premise.
ChassisControl System

Fine tune
with acomputer

Torque & Speed
Drum Roller

Page 6

Dual Fuel System Layout
Diesel ECU

Simply attach LPG
components onto theoriginal diesel system.
The engine itself is notaltered in any way.

LPG
ECU

LPG Injector

LPG Regulator

LPG Cylinder

Diesel Tank

Page 7Vehicle Specifications• Mitsubishi Canter• Engine Type• Injector• Sensors Installed

TKG-FEB50
4P10, 2990 cc Turbo Engine, Output: 110KW/3500rpm, Max torque: 370N・m/1350- 2840rpm
Nikki Injector
Axel pedal position sensor, crank angle sensor, revolution sensor, boost pressure sensor, LPG
pressure sensor, fuel-air ratio sensor at each cylinder, knock sensor, 4 temperature sensors(intake manifold, exhaust, coolant, LP gas)
• Installation & Setting 1) Each of the 4 cylinders were connected to an LPG injector pod with an LPG guide pipe.
2) LPG injection timing was set to top dead center on the compression stroke for cylinder 13) Diesel consumption was measured using the “Full Tank Method”
4)LPG consumption was measured by subtracting the tank weight (specific gravity: 0.56)•Test Procedure for 100 km/h in 5th gear and for 80 km/h in 4th gear
1) Vehicle gross weight: 5785 kg (including driver weight of 65 kg)2) After warming up the engine, the truck ran for 10 km on the chassis dynamometer in diesel
only mode to calculate its fuel efficiency.
3) Immediately afterwards, the truck ran for another 10 km on the chassis dynamometer indual fuel mode to calculate its fuel efficiency.

Page 8LP Gas and LPG Vehicles
LP Gas is the generic term for propane gas (gas in canisters often used incamping) and butane gas (lighter fluid). Research to use LPG for vehicles
started before WWII and its 1st application was for taxis and small trucks in
1963 . Currently, there are about 220,000 taxis and 30,000 small trucks
that operate on LPG. As a result, there are about 1500 LPG refilling stations
nationwide, located in every region where taxis operate.

LPG & Diesel Dual Truck Committee Members
 Committee Chair: Toshinobu Kanaya D.Sc.
Specially-Appointed Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology
 Vice-Chair: Shigeo Makino
Journalist & Photographer Keiji Endo
General Manager (Environmental Issues),
Tokyo Trucking Association
 Takayuki Tozuka
General Manager (Business Promotion), Vuteq Lorry Masao Hirano
President, Hirano Transport
 Observer: Tatsuhiro Oono
Executive Director, Higashi Nihon Usami

Secretariat
 Yoji Furuta
President, Daruma Energy
 Keiichi Suzuki
President, Joto Garage Hiroaki Suzuki
Director, Japan 21
 River Furuta
Project Manager, Daruma Energy Akira Hosoi
Operations Manager, Daruma Energy