Changing to a fuel which is typically half the cost of petrol sounds like a win-win situation. But converting your car so that it can use LPG has cons as well as pros.
LPG stands for liquefied petroleum gas. It is also known as butane or propane gas, and can be used as a fuel for powering cars.
With electric vehicles gaining popularity as petrol and diesel prices remain high, experts from car leasing giants LeaseCar UK analysed the appeal of LPG as another option. Most petrol cars can be fitted with an LPG converter making them dual-fuel cars that can run on both petrol and LPG fuel.
LPG carries far less tax duty than other forms of fuel, making it about half the price of petrol. However, with the cost of converting a car around £2,000, it's a move that has to be carefully considered.
A spokesperson for LeaseCar UK said: “Most drivers often consider electric cars as their only option, but these are expensive to purchase and not a possible option for many. Using an LPG converter on cars could become a viable solution for some but it isn’t an easy option and there are several factors to consider.”
What are the pros and cons of converting your car to use LPG?
Pros
1. Cheaper Fuel: The price is typically half as much as using petrol, so once the price of having the converter is paid off, you could be making some significant savings on your fuel prices.
2. Environmental Benefits: Air quality is a continuing issue (especially in urban areas) for the nation's health. It takes 20 LPG vehicles to emit the same amount of emissions as one diesel vehicle. You can also reduce your carbon footprint by running on LPG fuel.
3. Low-risk fuel: LPG can ignite just as easily as petrol, but is stored in a thick steel tank. Tests have confirmed that LPG tanks are safer than petrol tanks in an accident.
Cons
1. Expensive installation: The cost of converting is around about £2,000, and it can take up to three days to complete. And there is also no guarantee by the UK government that it won't raise duties on LPG in the future.
2. Fuel Stations: LPG fuel is not as easy to find at filling stations as petrol or fuel. This difficulty increases if you live in a rural area where filling stations are scarcer.
3. Limitations on conversion: LPG burns in exactly the same way as petrol does; therefore you can’t convert a diesel car to run on LPG.
