The Porter and Bongo 3 have declared their separation from diesel. The soaring costs of developing diesel engines, driven by increasingly stringent regulations, led to this decision. Instead, they have turned their focus to LPG engines, achieving a trifecta of increased power, carbon reduction, and enhanced efficiency, thus being reborn as highly efficient trucks.
On the 22nd and 23rd, Hyundai and Kia launched the Porter and Bongo 3 models featuring LPG turbo engines. These models are crucial for Hyundai and Kia, selling an average of over 8,000 units per month.
The Porter and Bongo 3, having bid farewell to diesel, are equipped with a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder LPG turbo engine and a 5-speed automatic transmission, delivering a maximum output of 159 horsepower. This represents a notable increase of 24 horsepower over the diesel engine models, offering substantial performance.
Carbon emissions have also been reduced. While the previous Porter diesel model emitted 204g to 221g of carbon per km, the new LPG model has reduced this to between 188g and 211g, achieving a 5-8% reduction in carbon emissions. Similarly, the Bongo 3 saw its diesel model emitting 195g to 216g, now reduced to 188g to 208g in the LPG variant, reflecting a 3.8% decrease in carbon emissions.
Efficiency has greatly improved as well. The Bongo 3 1-ton extended chassis King Cab automatic version recorded a fuel efficiency of 8.8 km/liter, translating to a savings of 800,000 won in fuel costs for every 2,000 km driven compared to diesel engine models. According to Hyundai, the Porter is also expected to save about 700,000 won in annual fuel costs compared to its diesel counterpart.
By opting for LPG over diesel in their 1-ton trucks, which are vital to small business owners, Hyundai and Kia are contributing to reducing their carbon footprint through enhanced power, efficiency, and reduced emissions.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr