Unusual Popularity of LPG Cars, LPG SUV Market Heats Up

Competition Between Renault Samsung QM6 and Kia Sportage
QM6 Is the Only One in the Midsize Segment

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] Recently, interest in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vehicles has been increasing due to high oil prices. The industry expects a competition between Renault Samsung's QM6 LPe and Kia's Sportage LPG.

According to data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 22nd, the total number of registered LPG vehicles as of the end of last year was 1,945,674. This is a 1.7% decrease compared to 1,979,407 vehicles a year earlier. However, the total number of registered LPG vehicles has been declining every year since peaking at 2,459,155 in 2010. Originally, the decline was around 3-4% annually, but after LPG passenger cars were made available for purchase by anyone in 2019, the rate of decrease slowed to the 1% range. Between 2015 and 2016, the number dropped by more than 90,000, but last year it decreased to about 30,000.

This means that the number of newly registered vehicles is increasing faster than the number of deregistered vehicles. LPG passenger cars, which were previously only available to disabled persons or national merit recipients unless used for rental or taxi services, began to become popular with the deregulation in 2019.

The LPG passenger car market is expected to expand this year as well. Sedan-type LPG vehicles are available in mid-size and near-large segments. The Renault Samsung QM6 LPe is the only LPG SUV model. Additionally, Kia is expected to launch the Sportage LPG model this year. Kia is reportedly currently preparing the preliminary procedures necessary for mass production of the Sportage LPG. This will provide consumers with more diverse LPG SUV options.

However, even with the introduction of the Sportage LPG model, the industry evaluates that the QM6 LPe will remain the only LPG SUV in the mid-size segment. This is because the Renault Samsung QM6 LPe is the only SUV in its class that offers the widest knee room of 289 mm and a spacious trunk that expands from a basic 676 liters up to 2,000 liters, while also providing an eco-friendly LPG powertrain.

The QM6 LPe is also highly rated for its quietness. The secret lies in the donut tank. Renault Samsung, together with the Korea LPG Association, invested 20 billion won over two years to successfully develop a circular ring-shaped tank. It is designed in a circular shape to fit in the space where the spare tire is usually stored, hence the name "donut tank." The core of the donut tank is its floating design, which is not fixed to the floor surface.

It is fixed to the side beams that form the car's frame, minimizing the transmission of vibrations from the fuel pump inside the donut tank to the interior. Additionally, durability has been improved. Renault Samsung carefully controlled noise and vibration (NVH) by covering the upper part of the donut tank with sound-absorbing material and steel, in addition to the floating design.

The donut tank also allows efficient use of trunk space. Previously, LPG vehicles had cylindrical gas bombs occupying a large portion of the trunk, sacrificing cargo space. There was also concern that in a rear-end collision, the cylindrical gas bomb could be pushed into the passenger compartment. In contrast, the donut tank is located in the spare tire space, eliminating these concerns. For safety, the donut tank is made using steel plates that are harder and lighter than cylindrical bombs. The tank thickness was increased by 15% to improve stability.

Renault Samsung's QM6 LPe combines eco-friendliness and economic efficiency. According to the Korea LPG Association, nitrogen oxide emissions from LPG vehicles are only 1/93 of those from diesel vehicles. When comprehensively evaluating environmental damage costs by fuel type, including fine dust, nitrogen oxides, and greenhouse gas emissions, the costs per liter are 601 won for gasoline, 1,126 won for diesel, and 246 won for LPG. LPG has the lowest level among internal combustion engines. The QM6 LPe can travel approximately 534 km when the 75-liter fuel tank is filled to about 80%, or 60 liters. Assuming a total driving distance of 100,000 km over five years, the total maintenance cost of the QM6 LPe is highly competitive. According to Renault Samsung, the QM6 LPe has the lowest total maintenance cost even when including both mid-size and compact SUVs.