Calor to push for more LPG by Rob Willock •
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Van buyers are being encouraged to choose petrol engines so they can convert to liquefied petroleum as (LPG) and save nearly 30p/lit.
Calor Gas last week joined forces with Halfords to "resolve the chicken-and-egg situation" and widen the availability of LPG. Operators are reluctant to convert to gas until there are more refuelling sites, while manufacturers are after a guaranteed market Following a pilot at an as-yetunnamed Midlands Halfords superstore, the companies hope to offer Calor Autogas at 25 Halfords sit within the M25 by the end of he year. They will then go nat onwide with about 100 LPG re elling sites.
Followin last month's Budget, in hich LPG duty was frozen, Auto s retails at 39p/lit, compared ith unleaded petrol at around 7p/lit and regular diesel at 69p it.
Halfords will also offer dual fuel conversions for petrolengined vehicles for around £1,100 a sum which it claims will be recouped within 12 months by a vehicle covering 30,000 miles a-year.
Diesel engine conversions are more costly, but dedicated LPG engines are being developed by the main HGV manufacturers.
Ford vans with LPG conversions will be available through dealers from early next year. Manager, municipal sales George Devine says: "Ford supports any development that increases LPG at the pumps. It should increase the market for alternative-fuel vehicles."
Vauxhall is marketing the Combo Dualfuel; a petrol/compressed-natural-gas van.
CI Shell, one of Calor Gas's main competitors in the LPG market, is planning to run trials of LPG at a number of its retail outlets in London while Jet has installed LPG pumps on service station forecourts at Leeds, Bradford and Staines.