LPG regains popularity as fuel prices rise

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is making a comeback thanks to a growing number of motorists looking to reduce running cost and emissions.

With petrol prices back on the rise and belts tightening across the country, the latest research by TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk has revealed that 59 per cent of motorists would consider converting their car to run on LPG.

According to the leading green car guide, switching to LPG, also known as autogas, has some distinct advantages. It could save you up to 40 per cent on fuel bills, lower your emissions and reduce a whole host of related costs through exemption to the London congestion charge, reduction in company car tax, reduction in road tax and reduced parking rates. Thanks to its environmental credentials, LPG enjoys a much lower duty rate compared with traditional road fuels, helping to keep the average price of a litre around half of that of petrol. Furthermore the government has committed to limiting duty rises until 2014.

LPG is not just cheaper, but greener too, producing around 20.3 per cent less CO2 than an equivalent petrol engine, as well as less NOx and 120 times less small particle emissions than diesel. It is also a by-product of oil refinement so is abundantly available and it has a clean chemical make-up, evaporating quickly if spilled meaning that itdoes not cause ground contamination.

LPG autogas is by far the most widely available alternative fuel in the UK, with over 1300 public access vehicle refuelling sites in the UK and around 150,000 LPG vehicles currently on our roads. Most petrol driven vehicles can be converted to run on LPG, at a cost of around £1,600 or alternatively you can buy one of an increasing number of factory-fitted LPG ready vehicles.

“LPG is a realistic solution to greener motoring for all of use still waiting for other alternatives to hit the mainstream. It’s a relatively cheap and ready way to reduce the environmental impact of your current vehicle or a wise investment when buying a new vehicle, as LPG is expected to rise in popularity as petrol and diesel prices creep back up,” advises TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk’s editor, Faye Sunderland.

With petrol prices back over the £1 per litre mark, now at an average of 102.5 pence per litre, there has never been a better time to make the switch.