LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) - Autogas Conversion Guide

LPG Cars

Driving an LPG vehicle is cheaper than its petrol or diesel equivalent and is better for the environment. This makes it one of most viable options as an alternative vehicle fuel in the UK. It is similar to conventional fuels in terms of handling and ease of use, but it is the differences that provide real environmental, economic and social benefits.

Environment Benefits of LPG

LPG produces far less carbon dioxide than petrol and fewer particulates and nitrogen oxides than diesel. Use of LPG resulted in a 20% saving on CO2 over petrol and a 1.8% saving compared with diesel.

Financial Savings OF LPG

You can save up to 40% off your fuel bill. This means that both the private motorist and the business user can make significant financial savings by switching to LPG. Due to cuts in fuel duty, LPG retails for approximately half the price of petrol and diesel. LPG vehicles also qualify for cheaper road tax.

The cleanest LPG vehicles registered on the PowerShift Register in Band 4 can apply to Transport for London to receive 100% discount on the daily London Congestion Charge* (see below).

Converting Your Car to LPG

Most cars having a petrol engine with spark ignition can be converted to LPG, but it is essential that you use a fully trained LPG specialist for the work. It costs around £1,500-£2,000 to convert a car or a light van. This outlay can be quickly recouped via lower running costs. Converted vehicles can be set up to run on both LPG and petrol. The petrol tank remains in the car, and you can change from one fuel to the other at the flick of a switch. Currently there are more than 1,200 LPG refuelling stations in the UK, and this number is constantly increasing.

LPG now has by far the largest re-fuelling infrastructure of any of the alternative fuels and LPG vehicles continue to offer a viable economic alternative to petrol and diesel.

Choosing an LPG Vehicle

Whilst the UK market for LPG vehicles is growing, numbers are insufficient for the vehicle manufacturers to develop LPG options on their new models. Manufacturers such as Citroen, Ford and Vauxhall have therefore arranged for manufacturer approved conversions. If the particular vehicle you require is not available on this basis then aftermarket conversions are available fully supported with warranties and national dealer networks.

About LPG

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a natural hydrocarbon fuel made up of propane and butane. It has the special property of becoming liquid when under pressure, and reverting to gases at atmospheric pressure. This means it can be easily and conveniently stored as a liquid.

About 60% of the world supply of LPG comes from the separation of natural gas products, and 40% is a by-product from the refining of crude oil. In the past, LPG has been considered as waste and flared off; now it is recognised as a major energy source.

Environmental issues are now a part of everyday life. Two topics high on the agenda are poor air quality, particularly in urban areas, and global warming. Vehicle emissions, ie particulates, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), are recognised as one of the main contributors to these problems. LPG emits similar CO₂ to diesel and considerably less than petrol. It is also much cleaner than diesel in terms of NOx and particulates which impact on our local air quality.

London Congestion Charge

The very cleanest alternative fuel vehicles have been granted 100% discount from the £8 per day London congestion charge.

To be eligible, a vehicle and the specific conversion (make of conversion equipment) must have undergone government approved tests to demonstrate an improvement in Euro IV emission results. Such vehicles are then eligible to be included in the Energy Saving Trust Powershift Register. The Register also includes the installers who are approved to fit that specific conversion.

If your car makes the grade, you need to register with Transport for London, www.tfl.gov.uk and pay an annual £10 fee to receive the discount. If you enter the zone most days, this move could save you up to £1600 per annum.

Converted cars with appropriate documentation (e.g. LPGA conversion certificate are accepted as an Alternative Fuel Car and on submitting the documentation to the DVLA will be eligible for a standard reduction on VED.

Fleet cars

For many companies, fuel is often the major operating cost. Some LPG cars are eligible for lower company car tax as well as lower road tax, and the cleanest vehicles are exempt from congestion charges in London. These tax breaks can make a big difference to both employees and employers; taxi drivers, fleet managers and company car users can make savings of up to 65%. You can find more information at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/cars.

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