RAC Gas Look at information displays that petrol and diesel costs happen to be especially volatile in the final handful of a long time.

Merge this Using the improved federal government strain on homeowners of diesel automobiles and the fee and infrastructure problems all around electrical vehicles and it could lead to motorists looking in other places.

What exactly of LPG, the seemingly perfect option which is been disregarded while in the cold of late? In this article we Have a look to check out no matter if it's a practical selection or not.
What exactly is LPG And exactly how could it be made?

LPG means liquefied petroleum gasoline and is a style of 'liquid gas' that could be utilized as gasoline for many different applications, like powering cars.

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

When traditionally it had been intentionally burnt off and squandered, in the previous few decades it's been recognised as a versatile lower-carbon gasoline – and made use of productively.

Although the phrase ‘liquid gas’ appears for being a contradiction in phrases, it essentially describes a transparent fuel that turns to liquid when subjected to tension or cooling: it’s this attribute which allows it to be saved in tanks inside a automobile.

Most petrol automobiles might be fitted using an LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gasoline) conversion, turning them into ‘dual-fuel cars’ that may operate on LPG as well as petrol. Some brands, such as Dacia, have bought conversions within the manufacturing unit.

LPG

The advantage of this is obvious any time you have a look at filling station selling prices for the two fuels: LPG fuel is well less than £one a litre in 2024, whereas petrol and diesel has not been beneath that figure since 2007.

Although autos are unlikely to be additional gas-efficient when running on LPG, you could potentially however preserve a piece with your fuel charges. As soon as the expense of the LPG conversion is compensated off, this could insert as much as a big saving – and the more you push, the greater you conserve.
Why can it be no more extensively applied?

Even though LPG is commonly employed by houses and corporations, less than one particular p.c of cars on United kingdom streets are fuelled by it.

There are a selection of main reasons why Lots of people are hesitant to convert their car or truck to operate on LPG but amongst the largest causes is The shortage of incentives with the United kingdom Governing administration.

Although vehicles converted by authorized businesses could qualify to save on automobile excise duty (VED), by being classed being an ‘alternatively-fuelled’ motor vehicle, the most up-to-date regulations signify these only help save £10 each year on highway tax.

Very similar to electric cars, it’s a ‘hen and egg’ circumstance. With LPG-converted cars and trucks representing this sort of a little proportion of all cars 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 realize the advantages and drawbacks of working an LPG car. Without the exact incentives as electric autos, LPG just isn’t remaining promoted in the UK. Quite a few motorists merely aren’t conscious of its existence.

Motorists are also concerned about the price. Changing a petrol car to run on LPG can Charge as much as £2,000, 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 improved considerably in the last number of yrs, slashing potential financial savings.

This uncertainty might make it tough to offer an LPG-transformed car or truck, this means you’ll wrestle to Get the a reimbursement if you need to do purchase a conversion after which market the car.

Though several automobile companies have prior to now experimented with supplying factory-fit LPG kits on new models (you may obtain ‘twin-fuel’ Fords, Dacias, Vauxhalls, Protons and Saabs in the classifieds), all of them offered in tiny numbers and, as a result, only Dacia sells new LPG converted cars and trucks right now.

eleven solutions to Minimize your driving emissions
Can you actually save money heading electric?
Petrol or diesel? Info and quiz that may help you decide on

How accessible is LPG?
Another excuse why A lot of people are unwilling to convert their motor vehicle to run on LPG is The problem find fuel stations that present it.

According to the United kingdom trade Affiliation for your LPG marketplace, UKLPG, you will find one,four hundred LPG refuelling stations across the nation when compared with all-around 8,350 filling stations Total.

Meaning it’s more challenging to discover LPG than petrol or diesel, particularly if you reside inside of a rural location the place filling stations are scarcer.

It is obtaining simpler to Find LPG stockists, however. There are actually now many Internet sites and mobile phone applications exhibiting your nearest LPG supplier, and in some cases allowing you Assess expenditures.

Many the massive gas station chains often present LPG, which include Shell, BP and Esso, as do grocery store petrol stations, notably some Morrisons and Sainsbury’s stations.
Need to I convert my vehicle to LPG?

Let us summarise the positives and negatives get more info of changing your vehicle to LPG.
Pros

Less expensive than petrol and diesel
Decreased CO2 emissions
Quieter than diesel engines
Evaporates in the situation of a leak, so low hazard

Negatives

High-priced to put in
Complicated – more charges if it goes Incorrect and for servicing
Is usually challenging to fill up