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Location: Home > Fuels > What are the pros and cons?  
Alternative Fuels
What are the pros and cons?

Payload
If you purchase a new (dual fuel) vehicle or convert an existing vehicle you may lose some payload space, taken up by the additional gas fuel tank. However the vehicle will be able to travel around 700 miles in one journey, using both petrol and gas if necessary.

 Fuel Consumption
Due to the fact that alternative fuels are cheaper than diesel or petrol, a gas or electric vehicle will travel further per £1 of fuel purchased. It must also be noted that due to the fact that gas has a lower calorific value than petrol or diesel, you actually get slightly fewer miles per gallon, however the price differential compensates.

Refuelling
Approximately 1500 LPG refuelling sites are in operation throughout the UK. On Merseyside alone there are currently 14 LPG refuelling stations.
View Map of LPG refuelling Stations
Businesses can even have their own filling station fitted on site.

Cost
If you wish to convert an existing vehicle, there is an initial cost of approximately £1500. The government have been supplying grants of up to 70% of the conversion to LPG/CNG or the additional cost of buying a new bi-fuel vehicle, through the Powershift programme www.powershift.org.uk. Unfortunately the Powershift grant scheme ended on 31 st March 2005 and there are currently no grants available. At 35p/litre, a medium sized saloon car (i.e Vauxhall Vectra) travelling 12,000 miles per year could save approximately £400 per year.

Road Tax on LPG and CNG vehicles is also reduced, as the government is incentivising the use of alternative fuels. Lower engine wear can be expected, leading to reduced maintenance costs and extended engine life.

ECOtravel
 Arriva The City of Liverpool Merseytravel catch Transport and Travel Research Euro Merseyside TravelWise

    PhD work of Stephen Finnegan "A LCA of Alternative Fuels for public Service Vehicles"