The Lowdown on Alternative Fuel

The green reasons

Environmental considerations have also driven the O'Brien fleet's Autogas uptake.
"Our foremost consideration was initially cost, but our company is now looking at ways to reduce our carbon footprint going forward. LPG is a big part of that, as well as being a key factor in fleet cost reduction. It's a win-win situation.”

On a smaller scale, Lanier Australia’s 60-strong nationwide servicing fleet runs on Autogas. Lanier national service manager Andrew Jeffress said that after trialing Ford's dedicated LPG E-Gas Falcon in 2000, he phased petrol vehicles out of the fleet and he remains convinced it was a shrewd decision.

"I'm certain we did right thing by going all-Autogas. I don't even look at anything else now.

"The residual values remain higher than petrol equivalents. Everyone is looking to choose Autogas cars now, which makes them easy to sell at the end of their service life."

Westlake says independent data from auction houses show that a typical used LPG vehicle is now achieving a $1,500-to- $3,000 premium when sold.

Jeffress says he was doubtful other mainstream fuels would outperform Autogas in meeting the company's future needs: "While petrol prices remain high - and I'm not expecting that to change - I'm sold on the gas concept. I'm doubtful that even diesel can provide the same value for us as LPG - and then there are the environmental considerations."

Huge cost savings

Even the police are converts to LPG. The New South Wales police operates about 500 LPG-powered Falcons, Commodores and Mitsubishis. Its fleet management service director, Keith Simmons, says NSW Police can afford more officers on the beat thanks to the fuel cost savings.

"By using LPG Autogas and hybrid-powered vehicles, the NSW Police Force fleet saved over $1 million in fuel costs in 2006 and simultaneously reduced its greenhouse gas emissions," he said.

"The fuel cost savings bolster active police resources and are retained at Local Area Commands and used to fund other police requirements, such as overtime and investigations.

"Basically, it puts more police on the street."

One of the country's largest private vehicle fleet operators, the NRMA, aims to convert 95 percent of its Roadside Assistance vehicles to run on LPG Autogas by the end of 2008.

By doing so, it estimates it will save over $1 million in annual fuel costs and simultaneously reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of every LPG-converted vehicle by 15 percent, amounting to 406 tonnes of CO2 over the past year. NRMA logistics manager Sam Caruana said the NRMA's switch to LPG Autogas commenced in 2004.

"We recognised our responsibility as the country's largest road service organisation to capitalise on Autogas' significant environmental and economic benefits, thereby providing an example for other road-based businesses, our members and other motorists to follow.

"We trialed dedicated E-Gas Ford Falcons in early 2005, which proved to be very successful in delivering operating cost reductions and meeting our green agenda. "Our uptake snowballed from there and we never looked back."

Phillip Westlake is industry development manager for LPG Australia (www.lpgaustralia.com.au).