Liquefied Petroleum Gas

NEW PRODUCT INFORMATION

Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (or LPG) is an alternative automotive fuel that is affordable and does not ‘cost the earth’. It can offer huge financial savings for anyone using vehicles in the local construction industry and at the same time be environmentally friendly and improve their carbon footprint.

Manufacturers such as Peugeot, Vauxhall, Nissan and Citroen supply new cars already converted to run on LPG. Many more vehicles can be adapted as LPG is usually fitted as a conversion after they are sold. This is achieved by adding an independent fuel system with a second tank, which is often located in the spare wheel well. This makes the vehicle bi-fuel efficient. It operates on LPG and when that runs out switches over to petrol, which extends the range of the vehicle.

Apart from savings on fuel, which attract the users, governments need LPG’s green virtues to help meet clean air targets. About 10million vehicles run on LPG in over 50 countries. That includes the USA, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Australia. The technology is used on motorbikes in Pakistan, lorries and buses in Canada, even scooters in the UK and notably many vehicles in cost conscious China and India.

Energy saving with LPG helping to preserve global resources by cutting pollution is clearly good government. Families worry personally about global warming. Governments worry nationally about harmful emission levels from diesel and petrol engines. Those emissions damage public health as well as trees and buildings and the general environment. PM10 is one typically pernicious particulate found in traffic emissions. It is so miniscule it penetrates the lungs very effectively. In urban areas PM10now knocks about a year off the average human life. But it takes 120LPG vehicles to emit as many fine particles as one average diesel engine. So, the local air purity at places like Beaumont and the rush hour smog in the Tunnel could be lowered by much greater use of LPG. The technology also produces less noise, making life quieter for both driver and public.

The only fully green option is to abandon all personal powered transport and to walk everywhere, cycle, use public transport, and never, ever fly. Such a lifestyle is scarcely practical in Jersey, especially in the building industry. But LPG could be a significant step forward.

Costs at the ‘PUMP’ as petrol prices surge on the back of crude oil prices and rising international demand from India and China, the annual saving from using LPG makes it more and more attractive. LPG is currently 41.39 pence per litre and is well under half the price of petrol however it yields slightly fewer miles per gallon, from10% to 20% less in fact. In addition there is a one off conversion cost of approximately £1,700. (That is offset by 500 litres worth of free fuel, courtesy of Jersey Gas who will also estimate the actual annual savings for your given vehicle and your annual mileage, on request. Telephone 755577)