LPG still the best alternative fuel option

Dr Laurie Sparke OAM is widely remembered for his commitment to safety, while working at GM-Holden in the capacity of Director of Innovation.

The good doctor (pictured) has now made a forthright statement supporting LPG as a fuel that, adopted widely, would benefit Australian motorists, improve the quality of our air and reduce our balance of trade deficit -- as well as further reducing our dependence on both domestic and imported fossil fuels.

He has called on the federal government to continue supporting the LPG industry and encourage consumers to convert vehicles to run on the gas.

Two principal reasons for doing so in the short term relate to the cost of imported fossil fuel (and consequently domestic fuel, due to the oil price parity policy), and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Australia has an abundant supply of gas from which the industry can draw LPG to fuel cars and, since the LPG burns cleaner than petrol, widespread migration from petrol to LPG for the vehicle parc -- including older cars -- will benefit the environment much faster than introducing more diesel-engined or E85 flex-fuel new car variants to the market.

"Australia has large reserves of LPG and natural gas which are, as yet, under-utilised and we should be taking leadership in the development of gas fuel and vehicle technologies to exploit that supply," said Dr Sparke.

"The Federal Government should firstly encourage consumers to convert to LPG use and secondly encourage the development of new technology to achieve the 13 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions which is available from the use of this fuel."

Dr Sparke extended his argument by pointing out the dwindling supply of domestic petroleum, combined with rising prices for foreign oil, would heavily constrict the supply of fuel for road transport within the next five years.

And it's not as if biofuels will help much.

"Other fuel alternatives, such as the large-scale production of bio-fuels, will have unintended negative environmental effects.

"Ethanol will be limited to use as a low-percentage petrol extender in Australia because of the huge areas of land cultivation required."

LPG offers an alternative fuel solution for drivers of older cars too. Many older cars on the road are large cars with high-torque engines, which lend themselves well to LPG (dual-fuel) conversion.

"In Victoria, for example, the average age of cars on the road is 11 years and many use old engine technology and are poorly maintained," said Dr Sparke.

"Simply mandating the replacement of old cars with new, more efficient ones would be inequitable and unaffordable - and the greenhouse emissions caused by making those cars would exacerbate an already critical greenhouse situation.

"Converting older vehicles in the national fleet to LPG is the better solution."

So the argument boils down to doing the most for the least cost, lowest level of technological development and optimal infrastructure change. Viewed that way, LPG does appear to provide a stronger benefit in the near future.

Many consumers seem to agree. Since August 2006, roughly 120,000 motorists have taken advantage of the government rebates to convert vehicles to run on LPG.

Currently, the government offers buyers a $1000 rebate on the purchase of any ex-factory LPG-fuelled car or a $2000 subsidy to convert an existing vehicle.

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