RAC Gasoline View details exhibits that petrol and diesel price ranges are already Particularly volatile in the last couple of yrs.

Incorporate this Together with the enhanced govt force on house owners of diesel autos and the associated fee and infrastructure worries all around electric cars and it could lead on to motorists on the lookout somewhere else.

So what of LPG, the seemingly ideal alternative that is been omitted in the cold of late? Here we Have a look to view whether or not it is a viable possibility or not.
Exactly what is LPG And the way can it be manufactured?

LPG means liquefied petroleum gasoline and is a form of 'liquid gas' that could be utilised as fuel for various applications, like powering cars.

Also called butane and propane fuel, or autogas in motoring circles, it is the by-solution of your processing of organic gasoline liquids as well as the refining of crude oil.

Even though customarily it 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 employed productively.

Although the phrase ‘liquid gasoline’ appears being a contradiction in conditions, it really describes a clear gas that turns to liquid when subjected to stress or cooling: it’s this characteristic that permits it to get stored in tanks in the car or truck.

Most petrol cars and trucks 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 brands, for example Dacia, have bought conversions within the manufacturing unit.

LPG

The advantage of this is clear when you look at filling station prices for The 2 fuels: LPG fuel is very well beneath £1 a litre in 2024, Whilst petrol and diesel hasn't been under that determine since 2007.

Whilst autos are not likely being extra gasoline-productive when operating on LPG, you can even now save a bit on your gas expenses. The moment the cost of the LPG conversion has long been paid out off, This may include as many as a substantial conserving – and the greater you drive, the more you help you save.
Why is it not more commonly used?

Despite the fact that LPG is commonly employed by houses and corporations, lower than one particular p.c of cars on UK roads are fuelled by it.

There are a variety of explanation why Lots of people are reluctant to convert their automobile to run on LPG but one among the most important explanations is The dearth of incentives from the UK Federal government.

While autos transformed by accredited corporations may well qualify to avoid wasting on car or truck excise obligation (VED), by currently being classed as an ‘alternatively-fuelled’ vehicle, the latest rules mean these only save £ten a year on road tax.

Very like electrical automobiles, it’s a ‘chicken and egg’ state of affairs. With LPG-converted cars symbolizing these kinds of a small proportion of all cars on United kingdom roadways, there’s very little incentive for filling stations to offer LPG. And when it’s hard to find filling stations stocking it, motorists will be hesitant to transform to LPG.

Lots of individuals don’t recognize the benefits and drawbacks of running an LPG car or truck. Without the similar incentives as electric automobiles, LPG simply isn’t currently being promoted in the UK. A lot of motorists simply aren’t conscious of its existence.

Motorists can also be concerned about the price. Changing a petrol vehicle to run on LPG can Price tag around £two,000, and there’s no promise from the UK federal government that it received’t elevate obligations on LPG in the future. The price of LPG has also amplified substantially in the last couple of yrs, slashing potential financial savings.

This uncertainty will make it difficult to promote an LPG-converted vehicle, which means you’ll struggle to get your money back if you do buy a conversion and then sell the vehicle.

Whilst a handful of auto producers have previously experimented website with supplying factory-fit LPG kits on new products (it's possible you'll obtain ‘twin-fuel’ Fords, Dacias, Vauxhalls, Protons and Saabs in the classifieds), all of them offered in little quantities and, as a result, only Dacia sells new LPG converted cars and trucks nowadays.

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How available is LPG?
One more reason why Lots of people are unwilling to convert their car or truck to operate on LPG is The problem find fuel stations that give it.

In accordance with the UK trade association with the LPG business, UKLPG, there are actually 1,400 LPG refuelling stations across the country as compared to close to eight,350 filling stations In general.

That means it’s harder to search out LPG than petrol or diesel, particularly when you reside inside a rural spot wherever filling stations are scarcer.

It is acquiring simpler to Track down LPG stockists, while. There are actually now many Internet sites and mobile phone apps displaying your nearest LPG supplier, and also letting you Examine fees.

Quite a few the large fuel station chains occasionally offer LPG, such as Shell, BP and Esso, as do supermarket petrol stations, notably some Morrisons and Sainsbury’s stations.
Should really I transform my car or truck to LPG?

Let's summarise the advantages and disadvantages of converting your automobile to LPG.
Professionals

Less costly than petrol and diesel
Lowered CO2 emissions
Quieter than diesel engines
Evaporates in the case of the leak, so minimal danger

Cons

Highly-priced to set up
Complex – extra expenditures if it goes Improper and for servicing
May be tricky to fill up