Many L.P.G. conversion inquiries

Press, 3 July 1979, Page 18

Many L.P.G. conversion inquiries

By

MICHAEL HANNAH

A Christchurch garage owner says he has received more than 200 inquiries from motorists interested in converting their cars to run on liquefied petroleum gas. Mr P. Bastion manager of the Wharenui Garage, advertised L.P.G. conversion kits two weeks ago. But the success of his advertisement has turned to embarrasssment and frustration.

So far, Mr Bastion has been able to convert only two cars to a dual fuel system. The conversion kits he ordered from an American manufacturer have been delayed in the North Island by the railway workers’ freightforwarding ban. The kits have arrived in Auckland, but they have been distributed to the first available orders, which, because of the ban, have all been in the North Island, Mr Bastion says. The railways ban has affected another supplier of conversion kits, Rockgas, Ltd, which is also one of the two suppliers of L.P.G. in the South Island. The kit pictured above is one of two available in Christchurch. It consists of an L.P.G. tank which sits in the boot, and several modifications to the conventional car engine. Safety features include a relief valve, which is vented to the outside of the vehicle, and a vacuum fuel lock which prevents

the flow of fuel when the engine stops and the ignition is still on.

The fuel passes from the tank through the fuel lock and filter to an L.P.G. converter, which consists of a two-stage regulator and vapouriser with water inlet and outlet for engine cooling. The next step is the mixer and carburettor, connected by an adapter for the petrol carburettor. The use of either L.P.G. or petrol is regulated by a solenoid valve, with a micro-switch on the mixer.

Most inquiries for the kits have been genuine enough for motorists to put down a 10 per cent deposit on the $lOOO conversion job, Mr Bastion says.

The advantages Of conversion to L.P.G. are not clear cut at the moment in the South Island, where L.P.G. costs virtually the same as petrol at 38 cents a litre. As well, there is a loss of boot space, a lower top speed, and fewer kilometres a litre in consumption. The cost of conversion (the Wharenui Garage quotes $950 for a small car and $lO5O for a big car) could nor. be recouped in the South Island, therefore, until there is a bigger difference between the prices of petrol and L.P.G.

North Island consumers pay about 19c a litre for L.P.G., and the Govern-

ment for some time has promised a national price. Those who have converted to L.PjG., then, are awaiting the expected drop in price fOr L.P.G., or further rises in the price of petrol. The kits allow for a dual-fuel system in which

the driver can select to run on either L.P.G. or petrol at the flick of a switch on the dashboard. A complete conversion to L.P.G. is possible, but not practicable until a network of L.P.G. service stations is set up throughout New Zealand. This will, be another 18 months away, according to a spokesman for the

L.P.G. Association. Few existing petrol service stations could carry big stocks of L.P.G,. the spokesman says, because they are either too close to residential areas or too small to accommodate the bulky L.P.G. tanks. Tax write-offs and Gov-

ernment loans are available to businesses that convert their cars to L.P.G., but most of Mr Bastion’s inquirers have been private motorists. The L.P.G. Association does not regard conversion as practicable only for fleets, such as taxis. There is no reason why motorists should not convert as soon as gas be-

comes readily available m the South Island. The problems of L.P.G. supply to the South Island have been accentuated by the freight-forwarding ban by railway workers and by the refusal earlier this month by seamen to handle L.P.G. without special insurance cover. Stocks of gas have been low .in Christchurch, and they will remain vulner-

able until transport and marketing problems are settled, the association says. The Budget also promised assistance to businesses contemplating converting their vehicles to compressed natural gas. But the association says that there is not likely to be any C.N.G. in the South Island.