[Simon & Emily]

Can anyone tell me if LPG is available easily at garages in NZ? We have found a couple of web sites that tell us it's popular, but would appreciate some input from those already out there?

Also, are there many cars around that run on Gas?

Thanks,

Emily

[Singel]

My neigbour has a company van that use Compressed Natural Gas. He told us that the maximum mileage that he could go is 180 km (sorry, do not know the size of his tank) and it costs $6 for him to top it up.

a website on LPG, http://www.donsautopages.co.nz/alternatefuelslpg.htm#nz

:cheers

[Simon & Emily]

Thanks for the link. We used to have a Lond Rover that we converted over a few years ago, so are used to the system, but it's interesting to try to find out what it's like over in NZ.

Thanks,

Emily

[Singel]

Hello Emily

The petrol price keeps going up each week, if not each day :wah

It is definitely worth considering driving a car that use Gas :nice1

:cheers

[Simon & Emily]

The reason we ask is that we now have a Jeep Grank Cherokee, which is a 4.7 litre. It's been on the market here for some time, and no-one is interested. It's getting more and more expensive to fill up, but Simon really doesn't want to sell it (I have to agree it's a lovely car, but just so thirsty) and so he's looking into shipping it over and getting it converted.

Just one more thing for me to look into I guess, along with everything else involved with the move.

Emily

[Simon & Emily]

Just another thought - does anyone out here in cyberspace run a gas car over in NZ, and if so, how much does it cost?

Thanks,

Emily

[Simon & Emily]

Just bumping this to the top again, as it seems quite topical at the moment - can anyone give me any more information about running costs of LPG cars? Price per litre on the forecourt? I can see from some websites that it is (or appears to be from my armchair) readily available, but was wondering on the costs. Also, has anyone imported a car already converted, or were you advised against it.

Thanks,

emily

[Timbo]

I thought you may find this of interest Emily;

Desperate drivers turn to LPG


Related Video

Desperate drivers turn to LPG (01:44)

Poll


Sep 2, 2005

New Zealand motorists are being driven to find alternatives to petrol as prices soar over the $1.50 a litre mark.

Inquiries about converting to LPG have quadrupled in recent months, reminiscent of the last oil crisis 25 years ago.

As one of the only mechanics in New Zealand specialising in LPG conversions, Ian Ruscoe says he is struggling to meet motorists' demands, and already has a two month waiting list.

"People are starting to panic...especially the taxi drivers, where it's costing them a lot of money to run...the phone just rings constantly," says Ruscoe.

Motorist Glen Wickert, who travels an hour each day to work, says he had no choice but to convert to LPG at a cost of about $3,000.

"If I had not have had the conversion, I would have probably have given up work over here and got a job closer to my home in Paraparam...I just wouldn't have been able to afford the continual rise in petrol costs," says Wickert.

A standard 60 litre petrol tank will cost about $92.00 to fill and will take the car about 600 km, whereas the same sized LPG tank will cost half that and take it 530 km.

Based on filling a two litre car once a week an LPG convert would end up with almost $2,500 more in their pocket, covering the installation costs in a year and a half. As a result, LPG is on the way to becoming as popular as it was during the 1980s Gulf oil crisis.

[Simon & Emily]

Thanks Tim, very interesting. I've sent a few e-mails to the relevant contact in NZ at the transport department (or whatever they call themselves) but have no reply whatsoever. One of my basic problems is that we cannot find our current car listed anywhere, on either the approved or non-approved for import lists. I'll keep waiting, I suppose.

Emily

[Timbo]

Hybrid car sales taking off


The Clean Green Car Co says sales of hybrid cars doing well amid rising fuel prices



8 September 2005

Motorists are looking for more economical cars with soaring fuel prices.

Stephen Pollard, the owner of The Clean Green Car Company, which sells second hand hybrid duel electrical and fuel powered cars, says he has sold all the stock in his showroom and people are now preordering.

He says because petrol has become expensive, there is a shortage of hybrid cars because of their worldwide popularity.

[Smiler]

Hmmmm petrol was £1.03-4 at the weekend and today has gone back down to ONLY 95.5 pence at our local garage. Whilst they seem to be amongst the first to raise the prices, it's the 1st time I've seen them come down. :clap

When I started driving it was 35p a GALLON (and curly wurlies were big)

Deborah

[Timbo]

http://www.cleangreencar.co.nz/

[Bubbles]

(and curly wurlies were big)

Deborah


Yeah, and Wagon Wheels aswell :roll

[Singel]

Today's paper about car converting to use Gas................

09.09.05
By Mathew Dearnaley

Installers of liquefied petroleum gas equipment in cars and vans are being rushed off their feet to meet fresh demand for the cheaper alternative fuel.

Veteran installer Ross McLennan, of the Auto Gas Centre in East Tamaki, was reluctant to disclose vehicle numbers but said he had a waiting list of almost three months.

Some motorists, including owners of fuel-guzzling 4WD vehicles, were desperate to convert to LPG but he was having to turn away some uncommon models which might take two or three days of his time to work out how to install new equipment safely.

Mr McLennan said he feared a continuation of high oil prices would attract "the wrong element" back into the industry, out for a fast profit in return for inferior workmanship.

"We are working flat out but are trying to keep a head on it because we supply equipment and are turning away people who are not qualified and are trying to get into the industry," he said.

LPG Association executive director Peter Gilbert said the fuel ranged in price from 75c to 80c a litre.

Although about 20 per cent more LPG than petrol was needed to travel the same distance lifting the comparative cost to between 90c to 96c) it was still markedly cheaper. It also gave a slightly higher performance than petrol, being 99 octane.

Mr McLennan said although taxi operators converting to LPG could probably recover the $3000 to $3500 conversion cost in five to six months, other motorists should make their own cost-benefit calculations before leaping in.