Alternative Fuel Car Explodes in Fiery Ball After Driver Lights Up
A London manager for an energy saving company has found himself the recipient of some incredible luck after walking away from his converted Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Peugeot that had, moments before, exploded. The incident occurred while he was driving at 30 miles per hour after lighting a cigarette.
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As a manager for a company that deals in providing energy savings solutions to their customers, Peter Tidbury thought it made perfect sense to purchase a Peugeot 607 that had been converted to LPG. From an article in the Daily Mail, Mr. Tidbury had this to say:
“I changed to LPG because it is a lot cheaper and as well as money saving is a lot greener than petrol. I work in the energy saving field and we all have to be more environmentally conscious these days.”
He had just filled up on LPG at a local gas station and was told that there would be a funny smell after filling up, so he though nothing of the fumes. He rolled down the window to air out the smell, and then closed it. A bit later he rolled down the window again to light a cigarette and that’s when the explosion occurred.
In his own words from the Daily Mail:
“I was doing about 30 mph and as I lit the cigarette there was an almighty explosion. The windows went out, the bonnet went up and the boot went up just as you see in the Hollywood movies.”
“I was belted in and braked sharply. I can’t remember this but I was told that I was directing traffic around the car whilst my suit jacket was still smoking.”
“For me it is miraculous. It was not my day to die. I firmly believe that the hand of God was on me that day.”
The cause of the accident is purely speculation at this point, but it seems that the leading theory is that a leak somewhere in the line between the LPG tank and the filler cap allowed the gas to seep into his cabin.
Mr. Tidbury says that he won’t buy an LPG car again, but would consider riding in one as a passenger. He has his current sights set on a larger BMW diesel car as a replacement.
Apparently, the accident has set Peter Tidbury on a healthier path too. He says, “My immediate thought after the accident was also to quit smoking. I’ve tried before but have now set myself a target to quit by Christmas.”
Source & Image Credit: Daily Mail Online
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October 31st, 2008 at 8:02 pm
I think it should be noted that LPG tanks are everywhere in the RV and commercial trucking industries, and this kind of accident almost never happens – LPG conversions are typically cost-effective means of safely reaching many alt. fuel goals, and (if anything) this story should be read as a “LPG conversion are *NOT* for backyard/amateur installation – get a professional … a good one!”
At least he’ll stop smoking, though!
October 31st, 2008 at 8:07 pm
This is why Audi stopped making its LPG car, formerly called The Hindenburg.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:13 pm
@ Carbon Buildup
Nice … I like the sporty one. The HindenTT!!
November 2nd, 2008 at 3:58 pm
If he had a leak that allowed gasoline fumes to build up in the car the explosion would have been far worse and probalby would have killed him.
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:09 pm
the main problem of fuel cell vehicles is the initial cost… i cant think of any other problem than that.
car manufacturers around the world should manufacture more of electric vehicles minus the fuel cell.
November 4th, 2008 at 12:56 am
As said, this had nothing to do with the fact that the car was LPG powered. Countless vehicles are equipped with LPG and don’t blow up. There was an install error, he should look into compensation from the company that did the conversion (unless he did it himself) rather than walk away from green alternatives. I sincerely hope this doesn’t become one of those persistent Urban Legends that are bandied about with 1/8 of the real info and turn people away from converting their gas-suckers.
November 5th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Apparently, the accident has set Peter Tidbury on a healthier path too. He says, “My immediate thought after the accident was also to quit smoking. I’ve tried before but have now set myself a target to quit by Christmas.”
If he wants to stick to his resolution to quit smoking, he should drive in nothing but CNG conversion cars.
Fear of explosion is not why there are so few CNG conversions. The reason that there are not too many CNG conversions in the United States is that the EPA requires makers of conversion kits to go through an annual certification process that can cost in the neighborhood of $200,000 per engine type per vehicle model. Makers of those kits then have to recoup the cost of certification from customers. That’s why an EPA certified conversion of a Ford F-150 pick up truck costs around $18,000. You can probably get a non certified conversion done for $2000 to $3000 but you run the risk of the EPA issuing you a fine of $5000 per day for tampering with the emission controls on your engine. If you would like to see more CNG conversions, write your Congressman to get the requirement changed to just having to pass inspection at your local smog inspection station.
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:44 pm
“I sincerely hope this doesn’t become one of those persistent Urban Legends that are bandied about with 1/8 of the real info and turn people away from converting their gas-suckers.”
Don’t worry, it will. Big Oil’s propaganda machine lives for these opportunities. (Yes, I know the “P” in LPG stands for “petroleum”, but Exxon would much rather keep us on thr gasoline tit!)
CNCMike and Mark_in_Texas (my state, too),
I enjoy reading your posts. They always seem well thought out and are always informative. I have alternative fuel-related business ambitions and you fellas seem to be quite saavy in that area. I would love to exchange thoughts and ideas with you.
I am very interested in learning as much as I can about ethanol, CNG, hydrogen and LPG applications to high performance engines.
How do we exchange email addresses (assuming you want to)? Being not-quite-a-spring-chicken, I am somewhat less than saavy when it comes to these danged ol’ computers.
Oh, and as far as the exploding Peugot goes, it isn’t rocket science to deduce that if there is a “funny smell”, then it probably comes from somewhere and until you know where it comes from, lighting a flame amidst that “funny smell” is a bad idea.
If you walked into a house that had that same smell, would you light a match? Not me!
Also, I would think that if you tout yourself as being an “energy savings solutions” company, it would only be prudent to have a greater understanding of the pro’s and con’s of the alternatives you may (or now, may not) recommend to your clients.
Of course, he did say he was in management!
February 16th, 2009 at 12:01 am
Never confine the LP gas tank.
It is best to use LP gas in a pickup truck and put the tank in the back so the gas won’t accumulate. I had a setup like that for my Ford pickup in the 70s and never had any trouble. Drove that truck 310,00 miles in 22 years and the rust came and took it away.
This technology is not for a car driven by an idiot!!!
June 26th, 2009 at 1:24 am
Well, at least it should help him quit smoking.
July 12th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
I recall in the early ’80s, having to take the ‘long way’ around town because LPG and CNG fueled vehicles were not allowed in tunnels. According to a civil engineer I asked about it once, the major concern was that a collision in the tunnel would leave an unmoving vehicle leaking gas in the tunnel, waiting for a spark.
Loved LPG cars, thought about CNG, but looking for a good, dedicated ethanol engine.
December 13th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Soon, and once America realizes that it shares world resources with Asians – no choice – fact of life, and the American dollar is no longer strong enough to command 80% of the world’s resources, a great American comeuppance will be under way, with convulsive paradigm shifts that already hack away at the “American Dream” Life style.
This propagandized, advertising idealized, American lifestyle – the one found on the glossy pages of magazines in full color, or the “Assumed” lifestyles in the backgrounds of TV shows, movies! You know! The Bull Shiite generators, propaganda for sales commissions! The ones that make us all feel deprived, is at stake, facing paradigm shifts of convulsive force!
We will see a shift away from the very expensive gasoline habit, towards cheaper LPG or Diesel if the prices of those fuels are not manipulated to screw even more out of the patriots!
We may even see battery cars, with plug-ins, replacing cars altogether! Buses, Trams, Rail systems, subways, all enemies of the huge tax haul the government makes on gasoline, not to mention the Oil Barons astounding profits and Middle Eastern parasite lifestyles – all this supported at the pump by the Great Hulking American Neanderthal simple minded gasoline addicted asshole that he is, may disappear!
In his jeans full of holes, over-drawn credit cards, harsh job-hunts, house mortgaged, fore closed, wife out whoring to be a “Cougar” in proper style, children all on dope and drunk to be in step with the tune the TV and movies piper pipes, high unemployment and unemployability in his own country, all plague him.
One day he will turn in wrath and shoot himself, and all will be lost, the willing work-horse run to his death – for ROI! Just like the fields in California – salted for ROI, not farmed for maximum returns, sustainability, value, at all! America! – land of the “Fast Buck” has met the Asian – and are losing ground as fast as it rains or snows or the sun shines – a force of nature, these Asians, even American Military geniuses did not prepare for: Beating America soundly in the field of World economics! Killing the Great Hulking American Neanderthal workhorse in his stall before he eve gets to work!
Winning a war, not a shot fired, no tanks, no Aircraft carriers, no aircraft, no infantry – not a WWII style war at all! Not fought on a designated battlefield with designated war-toys, battle rules from Geneva – none of that Bull Shiite! An economic war to the death and we are losing badly, world-wide! Yes Yankee Doodle it is for all the reasons above you will suffer the indignation of LPG cars or worse! Battery Plug-in cars! Made in China! and Trains! With bar cars! Poor bastards, you’ll never know what hit you!