What are the advantages of running on L.P.G.?

The gas stored in a tank either in the vehicle or underneath, depending on the make and model of the the environmental benefits are enormous. Recent tests have shown the advantages of LP gas against petrol and diesel. Road transport is the largest single source of particulates that, Department of Health statistics suggest, are responsible for several thousand advanced deaths each year as well as many thousands of instances of illness.
L.P.G. has a lower level of particulate emission than either petrol or diesel, as well as substantial reductions in equally harmful Oxides of Nitrogen. There are also advantages in another area of pollution - noise - with LP gas engines up to 50% quieter than diesel. It has been estimated that buses running on L.P.G. are as much as 90% cleaner and 30% less noisy than those with diesel engines.

What about L.P.G. as a motor fuel?
Buses, light vans and, more recently, heavy duty trucks can be converted to run on the fuel, as can diesel-engined boats, fork lift trucks and generators.
Propane liquefies easily at fairly low pressure and can therefore be stored as a liquid in a relatively small space. L.P.G. engines work in a similar manner to petrol combustion engines and conversion is therefore a simple process. Converting diesel engines to LP gas use is a more complicated operation. All modern conversions maintain bi-fuel capability so the vehicle can still be run on its original fuel.

Is it safe ?
All viable motor fuels are volatile but LP gas has an excellent safety record. The fuel tank is much stronger than conventional ones and has maintained its integrity in crash and fire tests. Approved conversions all have electronic shut off valves which activate when the engine is switched off or if the fuel pipe is damaged. Regulators and venting systems are constantly being improved, and standardisation of filling equipment and the regulation of converters and conversion equipment have helped to minimise risk.

Can I buy a bi-fuel car ?
Several vehicle manufacturers have started to offer their cars in L.P.G. options. Vauxhall, Volvo,Ford, Citroen, Daewoo and Nissan are among those marketing one or more of their models either factory- produced or converted at the time of purchase. As bi-fuel models are produced to order there can be a minor delay in delivery.

Can I get my car converted ?
There are now more than 50 Approved Installers across the country who have been inspected by the LP Gas Association (L.P.G.A) and conform to the strict safety and procedural standards demanded by the approval scheme. Other companies offer the conversion service but without regulation there is a good chance that poor quality or DIY conversions will be at best unecomomical and at worst dangerous. A badly converted vehicle can in fact cause more environmental damage than it did when running on petrol. Most vehicles can run on L.P.G., although the conversion from diesel requires fundamental and expensive modifications to the engine. Newer vehicles produce the best results in terms of reduced emissions.