RAC Fuel Watch facts shows that petrol and diesel rates have been In particular volatile in the last handful of years.

Mix this Along with the increased authorities stress on owners of diesel autos and the cost and infrastructure considerations all around electrical vehicles and it could lead to motorists searching elsewhere.

Just what exactly of LPG, the seemingly great choice that is been overlooked within the chilly of late? Below we take a look to find out irrespective of whether it is a viable option or not.
Exactly what is LPG And just how is it built?

LPG stands for liquefied petroleum fuel and is also a kind of 'liquid fuel' that may be used as gas for a variety of uses, which includes powering cars and trucks.

Also called butane and propane fuel, or autogas in motoring circles, it is the by-merchandise of the processing of normal gas liquids plus the refining of crude oil.

Whilst ordinarily it absolutely was deliberately burnt off and wasted, in the previous couple of a long time it has been recognised as a flexible low-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 in a car.

Most petrol vehicles might 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 check out filling station selling prices for the two fuels: LPG fuel is perfectly underneath £1 a litre in 2024, whereas petrol and diesel has not been beneath that figure due to the fact 2007.

While automobiles are unlikely to generally be far more fuel-economical when jogging on LPG, you might nonetheless help you save a bit on your gas bills. The moment the cost of the LPG conversion has long been paid out off, This may include nearly a major preserving – and the more you generate, the greater you save.
Why could it be no more widely utilised?

Although LPG is broadly employed by homes and firms, less than one particular p.c of cars on UK streets are fuelled by it.

There are a selection of main reasons why A lot of people are hesitant 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 transformed by authorised companies might qualify to save on vehicle excise responsibility (VED), by remaining classed being an ‘alternatively-fuelled’ car or truck, the newest policies indicate these only preserve £10 per year on highway tax.

Very similar to electric cars, it’s a ‘hen and egg’ situation. With LPG-converted cars and trucks representing this kind of a little proportion of all autos on UK roadways, there’s minor incentive for filling stations to offer LPG. And when it’s hard to find filling stations stocking it, motorists are going to be hesitant to transform to LPG.

Lots of individuals don’t recognize the pros and cons of jogging an LPG automobile. With no identical incentives as electric powered vehicles, LPG simply just isn’t currently being promoted in britain. Several motorists simply just aren’t conscious of its existence.

Motorists are also concerned about the price. Changing a petrol vehicle to run on LPG can Charge around £2,000, and there’s no assurance in the United kingdom govt that it received’t raise duties on LPG Later on. The price of LPG has also greater significantly in the final couple of a long time, slashing likely price savings.

This uncertainty can make it hard to market an LPG-converted auto, indicating you’ll battle to Get the a reimbursement if you need to do pay for a conversion then market the car.

Though a number of auto makers have in past times experimented with presenting manufacturing facility-suit LPG kits on new designs (you might discover ‘twin-gas’ Fords, Dacias, Vauxhalls, Protons and Saabs inside the classifieds), they all bought in smaller figures and, as such, only Dacia sells new LPG transformed vehicles these days.

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How out there is LPG?
Another reason why many people are hesitant to transform their automobile to operate on LPG is the difficulty to find gasoline stations that give it.

In accordance with the UK trade Affiliation with the LPG market, UKLPG, there are 1,four hundred LPG refuelling stations across the nation in comparison to all over eight,350 filling stations General.

Which means it’s more challenging to locate LPG than petrol or diesel, particularly if you reside inside of a rural region the place filling stations are scarcer.

It is obtaining simpler to Find LPG stockists, while. There are now many Sites and cell phone applications exhibiting your closest LPG company, and in many cases allowing you Examine charges.

A variety of the large gas station chains often give LPG, like Shell, BP and Esso, as do supermarket petrol stations, notably some Morrisons and Sainsbury’s stations.
Must I convert my car to LPG?

Let us summarise the benefits and drawbacks of converting your automobile to LPG.
Professionals

More affordable than petrol and diesel
Lowered CO2 emissions
Quieter than diesel engines
Evaporates in the situation of the leak, so minimal danger

Drawbacks

High priced to set up
Complex – extra prices if it goes Erroneous and for servicing
Could be difficult to refill