MAYOR FUELS CASE FOR LPG

The Mayor of Hayle, Councillor John Bennett, welcomed the availability of LPG to the far south west, when he attended the Autogas expert motoring roadshow last week.

Councillor Bennett officially opened the LPG refuelling pump on the forecourt of the Shell site in Hayle, making the cost effective, environmentally beneficial fuel available to residents of south west Cornwall.

Speaking at the event Councillor Bennett said: “Fuel costs in rural areas are a key issue and anything that can help local residents save money on fuel must be welcomed.

“The availability of LPG on this site is not only good for local Hayle residents, but also good for the county and for holiday makers. It was reassuring to see how many people were filling up their vehicles with LPG meaning many motorists in our area are not only saving money, but also reducing the harmful impact they have on the environment. And it is also encouraging to see that Shell is willing to build on its investment in Hayle.”

To celebrate the availability of LPG, Autogas hosted an expert motoring roadshow on the Shell site, inviting Sunday Times motoring journalist and TV car expert Jason Dawe to share his fuel-efficiency tips with Shell customers helping them to make the fuel in their tank go further.

Jason says: “Recent headlines showing increases in domestic fuel costs have made everyone think about how much they are spending, so if you can cut your fuel bills by up to 40 per cent it sounds like a great idea.

“Autogas LPG is a UK produced fuel that is widely available to UK drivers. It produces around 20 per cent less C02 than a car running on petrol and significantly less particulate matter and NOx than a standard diesel engine.”

Autogas and Jason Dawe were joined at the roadshow by representatives from leading fast fit retail experts HiQ, who offered free tyre safety checks, as well as Mazda, which has recently made a commitment to support vehicles running on LPG.

LPG refuelling sites in Cornwall now include Shell Penhale, Kingsley Village, Fraddon; Shell Caradon, Trerulefoot, Saltash; Shell Carland Cross, A30 Mitchell, Newquay; as well as Shell Hayle, Carwin Rise, Hayle.

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Notes to editors
European tests showed that vehicles running on petrol can produce up to 20.3 per cent more carbon dioxide than those running on LPG. In terms of oxides of nitrogen, which is equally as harmful to the environment and in particular to local air quality, it takes 20 LPG powered vehicles to produce the same amount as one diesel vehicle.

PM10s, or small particle, emissions, which have been singled out in road pollution studies as being particularly harmful to children and people with breathing disorders such as asthma, are also significantly reduced in vehicles running on Autogas; figures show 120 per cent less PM10 emissions than diesel vehicles. Even a small increase in the number of vehicles using Autogas instead of petrol or diesel could have a huge impact on the environment, given these figures.

Summer motoring in the South West boosted by Autogas

Motorists heading to the south west this summer could save up to a third on their fuel costs by converting to Autogas, which is now available at the Gordano services on the M5 motorway.

With many people still clutching tightly onto their purse strings, holidays are likely to take a hit again this year. But whilst the two week sojourn to the Maldives may be off the cards, or even a week in the Spanish Costas put off for at least another year, the UK holiday, or ‘staycation’ looks set to repeat its 2009 success.

The South West of England could benefit greatly from this trend again this summer with thousands heading to the region. Holidaymakers braving the M5 can find further ways to cut the cost of travelling thanks to the refurbishment of the Gordano services, located at the gateway to the South West, junction 19 of the M5.

As part of the refurbishment of the busy motorway services, Autogas has been installed at the Gordano forecourt. As a viable, alternative to petrol and diesel, Autogas offers motorists savings of more than a third on fuel costs* and can dramatically reduce the impact driving has on the environment.

Paul Oxford from Autogas explains the benefits for road users and the environment: “In the UK the popularity of LPG is increasing as motorists look to help the environment and cut fuel costs. Vehicles running on LPG produce far less carbon dioxide, but they also emit far fewer of the other harmful emissions such as oxides of nitrogen and microscopic particles, known as PM10s, which are found in diesel and petrol and have a damaging effect on the environment.

“In fact vehicles running on LPG produce 17 per cent less carbon dioxide than petrol. In terms of oxides of nitrogen, which is equally as harmful to the environment, Autogas delivers 120 per cent less than petrol and a staggering 2,000 per cent less than diesel.

“PM10, or small particle, emissions, which have been singled out in road pollution studies as being particularly harmful to children and people suffering from Asthma, are significantly reduced in vehicles running on Autogas; figures show 120 per cent less PM10 emissions than diesel vehicles.

“With 60,000 cars using the M5 every day, even a small increase in the number of vehicles using Autogas instead of petrol or diesel could have a huge impact.”

Paul adds: “LPG at Gordano services is currently retailing at 59.9 pence per litre compared to petrol at 126.9 pence per litre and 112.9 pence per litre for diesel**. As the differential between Autogas and other road fuels is greater now than it has ever been, the cost of conversion can be recouped even quicker.”

Converting a vehicle to run on LPG can be done quickly and easily by an approved converter and costs around £1,800. Although surprisingly few manufacturers are currently producing LPG powered vehicles, most petrol powered cars, and even light commercial vehicles, can be easily converted to run on LPG.

There are now more than 1,400 public access Autogas refuelling sites with the majority of these on petrol forecourts. Autogas is the UK’s leading supplier with more than 200 refuelling sites and ambitious plans to expand the network further over the next year.

To help drivers find their nearest LPG service station Autogas offers a free to download ‘point of interest’ file for leading satellite navigation systems. Users can log onto www.autogasfinder.co.uk or www.lpg-vehicles.co.uk/satnav to upload the Autogas locator file so that no matter where you they are in the UK they can find their nearest Autogas site.

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*41 per cent fuel costs calculated based on fuel costs taken from www.whatprice.co.uk 07/07/10 for Gordano services, consumption figures taken from www.renault.co.uk for a 2.0 140 petrol Laguna Sport Tourer and assuming a 20% reduction in fuel consumption for LPG
**www.whatprice.couk (07/07/010)

Green Boost for Cumbernauld Motorists

Motorists in Cumbernauld will find it even easier to go green this week when Autogas LPG becomes available at the Shell Old Inns service station on Landsdowne Drive.

LPG is the most accessible alternative road fuel in the UK and offers both environmental and financial benefits for motorists.

Last year, a study reported by the BBC(1) found that children are at greatest risk from harmful small particles in traffic pollution. It highlighted that these microscopic particles, known as PM10s, can contribute to both environmental and health problems, and given that children breath air closer to the roadside than adults, they are most at risk.

LPG produces far fewer harmful PM10 particles than other road fuels, emitting up to 120 times less than diesel vehicles2. Added benefits include 17% less carbon dioxide emissions than petrol and 2% less than diesel, and 120 per cent less NOx than petrol and staggering 2,000 per cent less than diesel.

Emma Bartle, from Autogas, the UK’s leading automotive liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplier, explains: “The introduction of LPG to Cumbernauld now means motorists can easily switch to a greener alternative motoring fuel, reducing roadside pollutants and improving air quality for the children in the area.

“Further advantages include cost savings as LPG currently retails at around half the price of petrol and diesel3. The cost of converting a vehicle to run on LPG can be recouped in under two years leaving motorists to enjoy ongoing savings on the cost of running a vehicle4.”

The new LPG refuelling site at Shell Old Ins M80 Wardpark is located in Cumbernauld Village off the A80.

LPG – AN ACCESSIBLE AND READILY AVAILABLE ALTERNATIVE FUEL
The total number of LPG stations in the UK is over 1,4005 and LPG availability is core to the company’s policy of delivering fuel to the thousands of LPG motorists.

Emma continues: “Autogas is committed to providing LPG customers with a wide-range of convenient and accessible service stations offering LPG. “With over 160,000 vehicles now being powered by LPG it’s vital we continually increase the number of available refuelling locations.

“Anyone thinking of converting their vehicle to run on LPG can be assured they will be no more than five6 miles away from an LPG service station in major conurbations, a figure which is continually monitored.

“Conversions should always be carried out by an LPGA Approved Installer who will comply with set safety standards, has undergone extensive training and examinations and can advise on the most suitable system for your vehicle.”

There are around 220 outlets currently supplied by Autogas in the UK and a full list can be found at www.autogas.ltd.uk.

For further information on Autogas and how to convert your petrol vehicle to run on LPG, visit www.autogas.ltd.uk. Motorists can also follow Autogas on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AutogasLPG to learn about the latest site openings and company information.
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Notes to editors:
1 The original BBC report can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8092182.stm
2 Small particle emissions are related to health effects including increased risk of heart and lung disease and problems such as asthma. All figures taken form the European Emissions Testing Programme 2003
3 www.petrolprices.com Average UK fuel prices for 8 March 2010: Petrol 114.3p, Diesel 115.3, LPG 61.5p.
4 Savings are based on official combined consumption figures published on www.renault.co.uk for 2.0 16V Laguna Sport Tourer assuming a 20% reduction for LPG. National average fuel prices taken from www.fleetnews.co.uk. In order to calculate potential fuel savings, Autogas has made a savings calculator available on its web site: www.autogas.ltd.uk.
5 Source: UKLPG
6 Based on LPG forecourt availability within London/M25, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Nottingham, Leicester, Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Newcastle, Durham, Aberdeen

For further information, please contact:
Kathy Hodson. Connect PR. The Chubb Buildings, Fryer Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1HT
Tel: 01902 714 957 / 07595 200 703
Email: kathy@connect-group.com

Greener motoring with Autogas LPG

Road pollution is a major concern for many people and councils across the country have implemented measures to try and reduce harmful emissions such as traffic calming, car sharing, congestion charging schemes and in some cases, areas prohibiting all traffic.

However, a far simpler way to reduce the pollution from road vehicles would be to switch to Liquid Petroleum Gas, or LPG, as Autogas’ Emma Bartle explains: “Motorists can rest assured that going green is made easy with LPG. It represents a realistic alternative to petrol and diesel, with more than 14.6 million vehicles worldwide making the most of its environmental and financial benefits.

“In the UK the popularity of LPG is increasing as motorists look to help the environment and reduce their carbon emissions. However, the environmental impact from road vehicles is far deeper than just CO2; vehicles running on LPG do produce far less carbon dioxide, but they also emit far fewer of the other harmful emissions such as oxides of nitrogen and microscopic particles, known as PM10s, which are found in diesel and petrol and have a damaging effect on the environment(1).”

By choosing to run an LPG-powered vehicle, as well as helping the environment, motorists can reap the benefits of using a cost-effective fuel by enjoying spending on average 40% less on fuel. And in most cases, the cost of conversion can be recovered in less than two years(2).

In addition, motorists in and around London can also apply for exemption from the congestion charge and all LPG vehicle owners can anticipate increased residual vehicle values.

There are now more than 1,400 public access LPG refuelling sites with the majority of these on petrol forecourts. Autogas Limited, a joint venture between Calor and Shell, currently supplies around 220 outlets in the UK. A full list can be found at www.autogas.ltd.uk.

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Notes to editors
Follow AutogasLPG on Twitter

(1) Vehicles running on LPG produce 17 per cent less carbon dioxide than petrol and 2 per cent less than diesel, but also 120 per cent less oxides of nitrogen than petrol and a staggering 2,000 per cent less than diesel, and up to 120 times less small particle (PM10) emissions than diesel vehicles.

(2) Converting a vehicle to run on LPG can be done quickly and easily by an approved converter and costs around £1,800. Based on current fuel prices and an annual mileage of 20,000 miles it would take around 22 months to recoup this initial cost. (Payback period equates to 22.03 months based on official combined consumption figures published on www.renault.co.uk for 2.0 16V Laguna Sport Tourer assuming a 20% reduction for LPG. National average fuel prices taken from www.fleetnews.co.uk.) In order to calculate potential fuel savings, Autogas has made a savings calculator available on its web site: www.autogas.ltd.uk.