MAHA as Cooperation Partner with Deutsche AutoGas AG (DAG). Active Cooperation has been Agreed Upon

A Cooperation Agreement has been Concluded

The agreement clearly stipulates that the participants goal is to promote the conversion of motor vehicles in Germany to use liquified petroleum gas. It is understandable that several areas of content and fields of work are involved in such an undertaking. For this reason, the creation of a cooperation makes sense and has promise for the future. All participating companies can then contribute to the efforts based on their field of expertise.

The engine is of main interest when converting a liquid fuel vehicle to the use of fuel in a gas state. MAHA is hereby a competent partner as a well-known specialist in the manufacture of workshop equipment of all kinds. In particular MAHA products for engine performance and emission measurement and testing are state-of–the-art. MAHA’s know-how is also helpful for sales and service to customers using its existing facilities and established methods.
DAG (Deutsche AutoGas AG, Frankfurt am Main) considers itself a coordinated, comprehensive system for marketing and installation of Autogas systems in Germany.

Further Cooperation Partners
Another very important cooperation partner is the Öcotec Autogas Engineering GmbH. They manufacture the apparatus which is part of the retro-fitting/conversion system. This cooperation is of great importance because this company has received statutory approval for its Autogas retro-fitting system. This is ECE-Guideline No. 115 based on § 41a StVZO. It covers practically all car brands. As an explanation: ECE is the abbreviation for "Economic Commission for Europe", the English term for the European Union Economic Commission. Only systems with this official approval can themselves certify the Gas System Installation Test (GSP) and the Gas Facility Test (GAP) by a skilled installation company. Thereby the DAG Autogas facilities are especially interesting. The time and costs needed for special TÜV and emission evaluations no longer exists. Universal technical benefits of using the Öcotec System:

• No limitations in relation to kW power, engine cubic capacity and running performance.
• Stabile operation of the system with optimum emission values and running properties is guaranteed.
• The corresponding control device adjusts itself to vehicle-specific characteristics.
• Has been specially developed for vehicles with sequential gasoline injection and is applicable for almost all types of conventional vehicIes and motorcycles.

The list of DAG cooperation partners is rounded off by the following companies: Deutsche Bank (financing issues), CarGarantie (additional guarantee for Autogas-retro-fitting systems), Nürnberger Autoversicherung (motor vehicle insurer for Autogas vehicles).

MAHA’s Special Role:
MAHA’s contribution to the cooperation will relate to the products and services it specializes in.
To evaluate the engine properties after a conversion has been completed, the MAHA performance and emission testers can be used. In order to incorporate model-specific characteristics the following is done:

• Conduct vehicle diagnosis before doing the conversion work (component test under load), performance measurement (compare with manufacturer specs), emission measurement (catalytic converter and Lambda probes test), error remedy (error storage reading), visual test (e.g. leaks, damages).
• Comparison test and vehicle diagnosis after conversion using test steps; engine performance determination and emission values. Should there be deviations in the target values for performance or emission values, the gas system properties must be adapted. Its control device is equipped with special software and can be adapted.

MAHA offers users (workshop masters, plant managers, testing technicians) a wide scope of courses and instructions, both specialized and general, for MAHA test and workshop equipment and its proper handling. In this way, the users quickly learn to operate the equipment and can utilize the system optimally exploiting all the possibilities. MAHA has its own training department with specialists to help in any situation. These services are expanded with the MAHA offer with individual consulting and support in the workshop planning phase and during installation.

Now a few words about the properties and advantages of Autogas as a fuel with reference to economics and ecology.
The technical term for this fuel made of propane and butane in its liquid form is called Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG). It is liquified under relatively small pressure and then takes up only approximately 1/260 of the volume it requires in gas form. It has the following benefits:

• Easy to transport and store as liquified gas.
• Fuel with high calorific value, low emission combustion, more environmentally friendly than gasoline.
• High anti-knock properties. Additives not necessary.
• Liquified petroleum gas is only half as expensive as normal gasoline. CO² emission value is reduced by 20% compared to conventional fuels and ca. 80% less emission.
• Particle emission does not occur.
• Autogas engines have a longer life and maintenance costs are lower.
• After the conversion of the vehicle, gas or gasoline is selectable. The range is then increased.
• In DIN EN 589 guideline, quality requirements for Autogas are uniform throughout Europe. Cross border usage within Europe is without a hitch.
• Basic prerequisites for the conversion are: regulated catalytic converter, sequential injection system in place.
• With the current system the following cannot be converted: Diesel vehicles, FSIengines.