Save Petrol Costs - Switch To Gas

Since 14 Aug 2006, the Federal Govt has been encouraging Aussie car owners to convert from petrol to gas by offering a substantial rebate.

How It Works

The LPG Vehicle Scheme applies in 2 situations:
- conversion of a petrol or diesel vehicle to LPG, and
- purchase of a factory-fitted LPG vehicle.

The rebate is $2000 for conversion, and $1000 towards the purchase price of a factory-fitted LPG vehicle.

The full rebate is available regardless of the actual conversion cost, which means you
may possibly end up with money in your pocket.

Whether the conversion to LPG saves you money in the long term would depend on several factors:
- the size of your car
- your car's fuel consumption
- how much you use your car
- the conversion cost

Choice.com.au has an excellent DIY calculator that lets you work out how long it would take for the conversion to pay for itself.

Pros and Cons of Switching From Petrol to LPG

Pros:

• It's the environmentally responsible thing to do. Using LPG creates less greenhouse gases, less carbon monoxide and less noxious pollutants.
• Save on petrol costs. A huge consideration considering how petrol costs keep rising and how dependent the average Aussie is on his car.

Cons:

• The LPG tank takes up considerable space in the boot.
• The weight of the LPG tank can result in a loss of power in older vehicles.
• There are more than 3200 LPG stations compared to over 8000 petrol stations. However, if you use dual fuel, you shouldn't have a problem as you can always use petrol if you can't find an LPG station.
• Finding a garage to service your car may be trickier.