Motorists Look to Alternative Fuels As Petrol Prices Top £1 Barrier

BRISTOL, UNITED KINGDOM – June 5, 2009: An increasing number of British motorists are opting out of the volatile petrol car market, according to the latest LPG (liquid petroleum gas) vehicle sales figures from Proton. The only manufacturer in the UK market to offer an LPG ready car at no extra conversion cost to the motorist, Proton has seen a 375% uplift in sales of its GEN-2 ecoLogic in the last month alone – making Proton one of the few manufacturers to increase their sales (2.3%) in May 2009 compared to the same period last year1.

Proton’s sales figures reflect a growing dissatisfaction amongst motorists towards the over-inflated price of petrol, which is once again on the rise. Adding further fuel to the AA’s report today that over a quarter of motorists are using their cars less as a result of the unreliable market, Proton is championing LPG as a cost and carbon-cutting way to drive.

With petrol prices currently averaging £1 per litre (going as high as 110.9p) at the pumps, LPG costs motorists just under half the price at 52p2 (going as low as 44.9p) for the same amount. For the average motorist driving 12,000 miles a year, this equates to a saving of around £670. Plus, eligible for the scrappage scheme, the GEN-2 ecoLogic starts from just £7,995 (full price £9,995), making the case for choosing LPG even more appealing.

Proton introduced the GEN-2 ecoLogic to the UK car market in October 2008. The first, and still only of its kind available in the UK, the ecoLogic comes readily converted to dual-fuel LPG. To convert a car to run on LPG currently costs between £1,500-£2,500. However the GEN-2 ecoLogic is priced exactly the same as its petrol equivalent and so the customer starts saving on their fuel costs the minute they drive away, without having to first offset the cost of the conversion.

Simon Park, sales director at Proton UK explains why LPG is winning the hearts and minds of motorists across the country: “LPG gives motorists the best of both worlds – its has been proved to be more eco-friendly than petrol and diesel and also it costs almost half the price to run. For those questioning the convenience of LPG, it’s becoming increasingly easy to fill up, with over 1400 refuelling sites around the UK, including motorway service stations and at major supermarkets.”

Typically, LPG produces less carbon monoxide, particulates and nitrous oxides than other fuel sources, plus a 15-20% reduction in carbon dioxide compared to petrol. Even the production of LPG is environmentally friendly; it’s a by-product of the extraction and refining of crude oil, which also means there’s a plentiful supply in the UK.