It's a Gas

Long gone are the days of free-riding on the open road, where you could enjoy mile after mile of beautiful countryside on congestion-free roads, writes Caroline Beamish.

Nowadays, that sort of hobby would earn you a disapproving head-shake from any eco-friendly acquaintances you might care to mention it to as they picture how much you have contributed to the problem of Global Warming, Global Dimming and the use of irreplaceable fossil fuels.

But there is another way. A cheaper, cleaner, less harmful option which also, as a bonus, gives you a smoother ride and a clearer conscience.

So why are we still using petrol and diesel when we have this new option at our disposal?

Why hasn't everyone changed over to Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)?

After all, the Queen, Prime Minister, and president of the United States all have LPG cars. Even the original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has been converted.

In truth, perhaps it is because not enough people are as clued up as they could be, while others are still under the impression that there are not many places to refill the tank when the red light comes on.

But in reality, with 17 garages in Cumbria stocking LPG as well as those in neighbouring North Yorkshire and north Lancashire, and more than 1,200 garages across the rest of the country, putting the brakes on petrol is more practical than you think.

And you don't even have to go out and cough up for a brand new LPG running car, you can simply convert your old one, which would then be a bio-fuel vehicle, giving you the peace of mind that it could run on petrol as well if you ran out of LPG.

LPG is the fuel of choice for more than eight million motorists worldwide, with around 110,000 in the UK alone.

But when you look at the benefits LPG brings with it, it is surprising that figure is so low.

LPG is the name for the mixture of propane and butane, which is able to condense into liquid at atmospheric temperature, transforming to a gas state 250 times less dense - when the pressure is slightly reduced.

Emissions are much lower than both petrol and diesel run cars and, as such, the Government has committed to a rolling three year duty increase so that you will always know what the fuel will cost for the coming three years.

They have also agreed not to increase duty by more than 1p per litre per year until March 2007, keeping the price to around half that of petrol, giving the motorist significant savings even compared to the latest diesel models.

While the cost of a conversion could be around £1,600, grants are available for some vehicles which also means they are exempt from paying the £5 congestion fee in central London.

But after an average 20,000 miles the full cost of conversion should have paid for itself with high-mileage drivers reaping back the cash, and making huge savings on fuel within nine or ten months.

It is also a cleaner, healthier fuel. Because LPG is so clean burning, it emits around 20 times fewer harmful pollutates which accumulate in our lungs - than a diesel car.

And, of course, with lower emissions comes lower levels of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere, lessening the greenhouse effect.

The fuel also has a positive effect on your driving experience with LPG vehicles giving a smoother ride and sounding 50 per cent quieter than Diesels. There is a negligible loss of power, although at normal acceleration levels it is unlikely you will notice.

On a conversion, a second fuel tank is fitted, usually in place of the spare wheel, which does mean losing some boot space or opting to carry a can of spray foam in place of a tyre.

And while LPG is widely available on the Continent, especially in Scandinavia, you can still take your car abroad. One drawback, which is currently under review, is that LPG vehicles are not allowed to travel on the Channel Tunnel.

Insurance-wise, the Department of Trade and Industry states there should be no increase on premiums and the resale value of the car will be the same, if not higher, as long as the work is carried out by an approved technician.

But if you are looking to buy a new LPG running car, manufacturers are now producing models specifically designed for the job - such as the new Vauxhall Corsa, Nissan Primera or Volvo S80.

In this area, there are LPG garages in Barrow, Ulverston, Newby Bridge, Kendal, Kirkby Lonsdale, Tebay, Penrith, Appleby, Carnforth, Lancaster and Morecambe among others.

So it is possible you are already filling up at a garage carrying LPG on a regular basis anyway.