Renault Korea Motors has recently patented a technology that it has proudly embedded in its products. The innovation involves placing the car's LPG tank, dubbed the 'donut tank' due to its toroidal shape, beneath the trunk where spare tires are typically stored.

The donut tank is fixed to the side beam, not the vehicle’s floor. Due to this, noise and vibration generated from the large surface area is greatly reduced.

The tank’s location also prevents the interior entry of the fuel pump noise and is safer as the tank is detached from the vehicle's body, minimizing impact.

Renault Korea Motors has integrated the technology into two of its models, the SM6, a midsize sedan, and the QM6, a midsize SUV.

The models have accordingly gained traction from customers who frequently cover extended distances, including taxi drivers, due to the economic nature of LPG.

The company also showcased a derivative product featuring its donut tank mounting technology, the QM6 Quest.

With the bold removal of the car’s backrow, the new two-seater SUV has a capacious load space of 1,413 liters (373 gallons). This spaciousness is widely appreciated by those who enjoy leisure activities requiring large equipment as well as small business owners.

Were it not for the donut tank mounting technology removing the bulky metal tank from the trunk, this generous load space would not be possible even if the backrow was removed. The groundbreaking idea enabled customers to experience Korea’s sole two-seater multipurpose SUV.

In addition to its ample space and reasonable fuel expense, the QM6 Quest also offers the added benefit of tax advantages.

When customers who previously drove diesel cars opt for the eco-friendly QM6 Quest 2.0 LPe model, they can receive a subsidiary of up to 9 million won ($6,716).

These customers are also exempt from the special consumption and education taxes, and a vehicle registration tax will be applied at the level of small trucks, which is lower than SUVs.

After owning the QM6 Quest for five years, the total tax benefit amounts to around 5 million won ($3,726) compared to the standard model.

With LPG garnering attention as an eco-friendly fuel, the sales volume of LPG-powered cars has increased. In fact, when considering the same engine displacement, LPG emits approximately 15% less carbon dioxide compared to gasoline.

Additionally, LPG cars are catching up with their gasoline counterparts in terms of acceleration, thanks to advancements in engine technology.

Renault is also observing stronger sales of its QM6 LPG model compared to the gasoline variant.

BY KIM SU-HYEON [kim.suhyeon4@joongang.co.kr]