Many countries around the world are already a long way down the alternative fuel road. Worldwide over 4 million vehicles run on Autogas.
In the UK we have some of the most congested roads in the world, with only Italy having more vehicles per mile of road than we have. Although some people may think the Italians thrive on congestion, they have realized the extent of their environmental problem and have over 1,000,000 vehicles running on Autogas. Their experience with both GNG and Autogas is vast as they have been using alternative fuels for the last 40 years.
In some major Italian cities, during periods of bad atmospheric pollution, it is prohibited to use your diesel or petrol car on some days. The way the system works is that cars with registration number plates with even numbers can drive into the city on one day and the cars with odd numbers the next day. Vehicles powered by cleaner alternative fuels can be driven in the city on all days. It has been noted that some Italian commuters are now buying two cars, one with even number registration plates and the other with odd numbers!
In France the reduction in January 1996, of the tax on Autogas by 70%, and the raising of the tax on diesel, has really stimulated the growth of Autogas as a road fuel in France.
Holland is a small country with a huge oil refining capacity where the Dutch government for over 40 years has accepted Autogas as a clean motor fuel. Consequently the maturest Autogas market in the world has developed there, and around 8% of all the countries passenger cars run on Autogas. For high mileage cars the diesel engine car is the main competitor. The Dutch government maintains a certain balance between the three motor fuels by imposing a combination of different excise duties and road taxes for the various fuels. The Autogas industry is well organised and maintains a good working relationship with the government. Autogas is available at virtually all the motorway service stations and costs less than 20p per litre. In Belgium Autogas is even cheaper.
Autogas, or "Go Gas" as they call it, is the main alternative motor fuel in Australia and currently represents 6% of passenger and light duty commercial vehicie demand. More importantly. from the viewpoint of urban air quality. Autogas represents nearly 10% of vehicle fuel demand in the major cities There are now more than 300,000 vehicles running on Autogas in Australia. 15,000 being taxis (over 90% of local taxi fleets). The balance of the market comes mainly from the high mileage users.
The driving force behind the growth in Autogas demand has been the Australian government’s policy of exempting Autogas from excise duty and state taxes. Consequently, Autogas enjoys a substantial price advantage over petrol and diesel.
The New Zealand Government started the initiative towards the use of alternative fuels. A grant scheme was initiated in the early ‘80s whereby the vehicle owner received a grant that was a substantial proportion of the conversion costs. For us in the UK It is hard to believe, but around 57% of the total usage of LPG in New Zealand is for automotive use.
The largest consumer of LPG, as a vehicle fuel, is Japan, which uses over 1.8 million tonnes annually. Not surprising for a country with such a high population density. Over 90% of all the taxis in Japan run on Autogas. Stringent , (Nitrogen oxides) limitations in designated areas of major cites are promoting the use of alternative fuels The aim in Japan is to have 2,000 service stations selling only alternative fuels by the year 2000.
The Japanese government is well known for its endeavours to reduce emissions in its crowded urban areas. The Japanese Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s) all produce mono-fuel LPG taxis, whilst the government taxes Autogas at only 18% of the tax on petrol. New Japanese motor vehicle emission control standards have been introduced, especially for the six big cities, a further sharp reduction of N0x, was initiated in 1994. The new N0x, law enables local authorities to ban the use of non-N0x, certified cars in designated zones of major cities. With the new N0x, law, the Japanese government endeavoured at persuading companies to change their fleets from diesel to petrol or Autogas. Toyota and Mazda already have LPG powered small trucks and delivery vans available for this new market. New models of diesel cars have to comply with the new regulations; existing models from 1st September 1995 and imports as from 1st April 1996. It is estimated that some 2 million diesel cars will be replaced by new cleaner ones. Most certainly, Autogas will benefit from this development, again stimulated by a government measure.
South Korea is the second largest taxi market for Autogas (their Autogas is 100% butane), and it is still growing rapidly. Due to a shortage of LPG, the use of Autogas in other vehicles is prohibited. Thailand’s Autogas taxi market is mainly concentrated in the city of Bangkok, where even many of the three wheeled tuk-tuks are fuelled by Autogas.
In global terms, the Autogas vehicle concept is well established. Taking the
European Union as a whole Autogas has a penetration in the vehicle fuel market of
1.4% and is growing steadily.