MOTORISTS could turn to liquefied petroleum gas to run their vehicles on if the price of petrol continues to rise. Guernsey Gas has been running its fleet on autogas, the common name for LPG, for more than five years and marketing manager Dave Bird said others should follow their lead.
‘By using gas, the most green, environmentally friendly source of energy in the island, you will be helping to reduce the island’s carbon footprint in your car.’
Mr Bird said it cost about £2,000 on average to convert a petrol engine to dual fuel autogas and in the longer term it would become cheaper to do so with petrol locally reportedly set to break through the 90p-a-litre barrier.
‘Now that autogas, which is 43.5p a litre, is in the region of 36p a litre cheaper than petrol or diesel, the conversion cost will be recouped within 18 months to two years.
‘I think that many people are going to realise not only that they are helping the environment, but that they are going to save money by converting.
‘Some car manufacturers such as Peugeot, Fiat, Volvo and Ford supply dual fuel autogas vehicles straight off the production line.’
Doyle Motors is the only supplier of the fuel in Guernsey and supplies Guernsey Gas itself.
Deputy manager Patricia English said Guernsey Gas had been using LPG ever since the garage installed its distribution tanks.
‘There are also a small number of privately owned vans and cars which have been converted to run on LPG. In the summer months we see several locally owned motor homes and caravanettes filling up with LPG before travelling off-island for holidays.’
Conversion kits can be fitted by Guernsey Gas.
The good news is that there does not seem to any plans at moment to increase duty on gas.
‘LPG is not under the new regime. It will be looked at and as with any other changes with fuel it will be kept under review,’ said a Customs spokesman.
‘The States may consider charges in the future depending on how many people start using alternative fuels.’
Mr Bird said LPG carried several advantages on top of being cheaper.
‘Autogas is more environmentally friendly as it is a much cleaner burn than petrol and there is less wear and tear on the engine, keeping maintenance costs down.
‘Exhaust emissions into the atmosphere are also 50% lower than a petrol engine from a cold start.
‘With dual fuel vehicles there is less chance of running out of fuel as there are two tanks, giving you double the mileage.’
However, Guernsey Motor Trades Association president Dave Beausire urged caution before people thought about changing.
He accepted emissions were lower with LPG, but said manufacturers of petrol and diesel vehicles were reducing theirs all the time towards those of LPG ones.
He also doubted its cost-effectiveness considering how much it costs to convert, which he put at £2,500. Disposing of the vehicles was also more expensive.
‘You are not going to see them in vast quantities. It’s just not a cost-effective option.’
Article posted on 7th January, 2008 - 12.00am
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