L.P.G. conversions rise rapidly

Press, 28 September 1988, Page 46

L.P.G. conversions rise rapidly

The current $5OO LPG conversions on offer to high mileage motorists has meant a significant turnaround in the number of people who want LPG in their vehicles, according to the Marketing Coordinator for LPG Promotions Limited, Brett Ambler. Each day some 50 applictions from commercial and private vehicle operators are being processed. “In the case of NZ Light? ing supplies (which operates a Mitsubishi L3OO van out of Hamilton), savings amounting to. thousands of dollars each year will be evident after a couple of months, because the vehicle will do 80,000 kms on its first year on LPG,” said Mr Ambler. “A Mr Whippy van in Dunedin used to use $lOOO per month on petrol. Con-

version to LPG under the new Blue Chip Plus scheme will similarly mean fairly immediate savings of about a third,” he said. While many vehicles on offer for conversions are special purpose (e.g., buses, taxis, couriers, etc.) by far the greater number are vans and utes operated by tradespeople who can see savings amounting to thousands of dollars because their mileages are over 25,000 kms p.a. Mr Ambler said tight economic conditions have clearly signalled the need for vehicle budgets to work harder. Conversion to LPG under the new $5OO scheme means small and large fleets can do the same higher mileage job for less, because fuel savings and lower maintenance costs are reduced

within a very short time. He cites a Porirua taxi fleet where engines are doing 500,000 kms before being removed for rebuilds. “Mechanics are finding these engines invariably do not require major reconditioning and are going back into vehicles in a very short time” he said. Today there are some 48,000 vehicles throughout New Zealand operating on LPG The $5OO scheme means vehicles are being traded without LPG conversion systems being transferred from vehicle to vehicle, because it is cheaper to install a brand new system. ■ LPG Promotions’ $5OO offer is limited to qualifying vehicles while stocks last through 240 Certified Blue Chip Installers nationwide.