RAC Gasoline Observe data exhibits that petrol and diesel prices are already Particularly volatile in the last couple of a long time.

Merge this with the increased authorities stress on proprietors of diesel vehicles and the price and infrastructure concerns around electric powered cars and trucks and it may lead to motorists hunting somewhere else.

So what of LPG, the seemingly suitable choice that is been neglected inside the chilly of late? In this article we take a look to find out no matter if it's a practical selection or not.
What exactly is LPG and how could it be produced?

LPG means liquefied petroleum gas and is particularly a sort of 'liquid fuel' which can be utilized as gas for a number of uses, which includes powering cars and trucks.

Also called butane and propane fuel, or autogas in motoring circles, it is the by-merchandise from the processing of pure fuel liquids as well as the refining of crude oil.

When ordinarily it was deliberately burnt off and squandered, in the last few decades it has been recognised as a flexible small-carbon fuel – and utilised productively.

Even though the phrase ‘liquid fuel’ seems to be a contradiction in terms, it truly describes a clear gasoline that turns to liquid when subjected to force or cooling: it’s this attribute that enables it to generally be saved in tanks inside of a car.

Most petrol vehicles could be fitted using an LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gasoline) conversion, turning them into ‘dual-fuel cars’ that may run on LPG in addition to petrol. Some brand names, including Dacia, have offered conversions from your factory.

LPG

The benefit of this is evident any time you have a look at filling station charges for the two fuels: LPG gasoline is perfectly under £one a litre in 2024, While petrol and diesel has not been underneath that figure because 2007.

Even though cars and trucks are unlikely to become extra fuel-effective when operating on LPG, you can continue to help save a chunk on your own fuel costs. When the price of the LPG conversion is compensated off, this could insert around a significant conserving – and the greater you drive, the greater you save.
Why is it no more greatly utilised?

Although LPG is broadly employed by homes and firms, fewer than a single per cent of cars and trucks on UK roads are fuelled by it.

There are a variety of explanation why Lots of people are reluctant to convert their auto to operate on LPG but amongst the biggest causes is The shortage of incentives through the United kingdom Govt.

Whilst cars and trucks transformed by permitted providers may perhaps qualify to save lots of on auto excise responsibility (VED), by staying classed as an ‘alternatively-fuelled’ auto, the most recent principles suggest these only conserve £ten per annum on highway tax.

Very similar to electric cars, it’s a ‘hen and egg’ circumstance. With LPG-converted cars and trucks symbolizing this sort of a small proportion of all motor vehicles on United kingdom roads, there’s very little incentive for filling stations to supply LPG. And when it’s hard to find filling stations stocking it, motorists will probably be unwilling to convert to LPG.

Many people don’t have an understanding of the positives and negatives of managing an LPG vehicle. With no exact same incentives as electrical cars, LPG only isn’t becoming promoted in the united kingdom. Numerous motorists only aren’t aware of its existence.

Drivers also are concerned about the cost. Changing a petrol car to run on LPG can Value as much as £2,000, and there’s no promise from the UK federal government that it received’t elevate duties on LPG Later on. The price of LPG has also enhanced significantly in the final couple of a long time, slashing probable savings.

This uncertainty could make it tough to market an LPG-converted auto, indicating you’ll wrestle to Get the a reimbursement if you need to do purchase a conversion then market the car.

Though a number of auto makers have before get more info experimented with giving manufacturing facility-suit LPG kits on new versions (you could discover ‘twin-gas’ Fords, Dacias, Vauxhalls, Protons and Saabs while in the classifieds), they all bought in compact figures and, as such, only Dacia sells new LPG transformed automobiles these days.

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How readily available is LPG?
Another reason why Many of us are hesitant to transform their vehicle to operate on LPG is the difficulty to find gasoline stations that offer it.

In accordance with the UK trade association with the LPG industry, UKLPG, you will find 1,400 LPG refuelling stations across the nation when compared with about 8,350 filling stations In general.

That means it’s harder to search out LPG than petrol or diesel, particularly when you live within a rural place where filling stations are scarcer.

It truly is finding much easier to locate LPG stockists, although. You can find now various websites and cellphone apps displaying your nearest LPG provider, and also letting you Examine charges.

Quite a few the large fuel station chains at times supply LPG, like Shell, BP and Esso, as do supermarket petrol stations, notably some Morrisons and Sainsbury’s stations.
Ought to I convert my car to LPG?

Let us summarise the pros and cons of converting your car to LPG.
Execs

More cost-effective than petrol and diesel
Minimized CO2 emissions
Quieter than diesel engines
Evaporates in the case of the leak, so lower threat

Disadvantages

Expensive to setup
Challenging – additional costs if it goes Erroneous and for servicing
Might be difficult to refill