Actions speak louder than words

Recent research by the National Association of Primary Care highlighted a major drive among primary care groups, trusts and general practitioners to become more cost effective when running fleet cars. The more cost conscious among us have been driving diesels for years. However, in terms of health-damaging pollutants, both diesel and petrol-powered light vehicles produce carcinogenic substances.

So what's the answer?

The government's initiative to tax company cars based on Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) emissions may have gone some way towards encouraging the use of more fuel efficient vehicles, but according to Autogas Ltd, the UK's leading automotive LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) supplier, opting for diesel engines just compounds the issue. Says Malcolm Smith, national sales manager at Autogas. "Vehicle emissions also consist of a cocktail of noxious oxides and microscopic soot particles laced with chemicals. Ironically, diesel engines emit high levels of both!"

LPG
The trend now among physicians and primary care organisations seems to be towards alternative vehicles and fuels. To address the growing demand across the UK for clean efficient fuel, Shell and Calor have joined forces to bring the advantages of LPG to a wider market. The joint venture combines Calor's technical expertise with Shell's national retail infrastructure and ensures LPG is accessible to private and business car drivers nationwide.

LPG - the facts

• Fact - fuel running costs are up to 40% lower than petrol
• Fact - vehicles running on Autogas produce far fewer of the harmful emissions that contribute to environmental and health problems
• Fact - LPG is now available at over 1,000 outlets in Britain
• Fact - an Autogas tank will survive far greater impact than petrol or diesel tanks
• Fact - an Autogas tank can be discreetly hidden away
• Fact - all current vehicles are bi-fuel, switching from petrol to LPG whilst driving
• Fact - a conversion costs between £1400 and £2200 from LPGA approved conversion companies
• Fact - Government grants of up to 70% are available for cars up to 5 years old.
• Fact - Low Emissions Zones are set to become a feature of cities in the UK over the coming years - Autogas vehicles will pass the test
• Fact - Volvo, Citroen, Daewoo, Nissan and Vauxhall sell bi-fuel cars

Will it affect performance?
In terms of cost savings, most definitely. In terms of the car's performance, modern LPG systems make no appreciable difference. Depending on the system fitted and the engine configuration, and based on a given measure of fuel, the range of a car running on LPG is between 70% to 90% of petrol. Most petrol engines are suitable for conversion and new technology means LPG can also be used on turbo-charged petrol engines. Major automotive manufacturers such as Volvo, Citroen, Daewoo, Nissan and Vauxhall, have also recognised this growing demand and now produce bi-fuel cars.

So what does this mean in terms of savings for GPs?
At around 36 pence per litre, LPG will deliver significant cost savings to any motorist or fleet manager. As a guide, the savings on a petrol vehicle doing around 25,000 miles per year at an average fuel consumption of 30 mpg, would be around £1,000.

With government commitment to maintain the duty differential between LPG and petrol, these savings are set to grow well into the future. Increasing petrol prices and low emissions zones will drive up the cost of motoring making LPG even more logical.

With massive cost-saving benefits, ever-increasing refuelling stations, and more importantly, cleaner air for all - the argument for LPG has never been stronger.
 

For further information visit www.autogas.ltd.uk or call us on 01527 400 100.

Autogas Limited
Unit 4 Acorn House
Clews Road
Redditch
Worcs B98 7ST

Tel 01527 400100
Fax 01527 543480
email: info@autogas.ltd.uk
web site: www.autogas.ltd.uk