LPG – the cleaner, cheaper fuel of choice

LPG – the cleaner, cheaper fuel of choice

With petrol and diesel prices hurtling well past $2 a litre, LPG is re-emerging as the clean, cost-effective alternative fuel of choice, according to Contact Energy subsidiary, Rockgas.

“At the current pump price of $1.35 a litre , LPG is still well below the $2 a litre barrier which both petrol and diesel (including road user charges) have broken through recently,” said Ruory Fairbrother, the service station manager for national LPG supplier, Rockgas.

“For anyone buying a new car or considering new fleet cars, LPG is by far the most attractive option at the moment, and is likely to stay that way.

“In the last 18 months petrol and diesel prices have jumped 73 cents and 94 cents per litre (including GST and RUCs) respectively. LPG prices have risen just 48 cents per litre in the same period.

“So the difference between petrol and LPG currently sits at around 38 cents per litre, after allowing for the 30 per cent LPG/petrol conversion factor.”

“More significant savings are available when using the Rockgas Fuelcard,” said Mr Fairbrother. “Even a low mileage motorist could expect savings of around 48 cents per litre, compared with petrol.”

LPG is particularly attractive for high mileage and professional drivers.

“If you’re doing 65,000 kms a year and paying Rockgas fleet rates, that’s an annual saving of about $4,520 for a Toyota Camry with an LPG conversion, or $2,521 per annum for a factory model LPG Falcon.”

As major taxi fleets across New Zealand abandon petrol because of its high carbon emissions, LPG is increasingly competing with diesel and hybrids on both cost and environmental grounds.

LPG carbon emissions are substantially lower than petrol, and comparable with diesel, and LPG is highly cost competitive with diesel.

“However, LPG is far cleaner than diesel, which has high levels of other noxious emissions that cause air pollution and illnesses such as cancers and asthma.”

LPG is available nationwide at some 500 locations.

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