LPG converts multiply

The spiralling cost of petrol has led to New Zealand motorists swamping the LPG industry with requests for conversion to the alternative fuel, suppliers said yesterday.

With motorists now paying about 68 cents a litre for LPG compared with $1.18 a litre for unleaded 91 petrol, the industry is handling its biggest jump in sales since the boom days of the mid-1980s.

There had been a big leap in applications for conversions, Shell LPG manager Mario Vulinovich said.

"We are talking about a large increase in conversions, from basically very, very quiet to having the phone ringing red hot ... "

Shell offered interest-free terms for business customers to convert.

The keenest were high users like taxi owners, but there had been interest from private and commercial drivers, he said. For the average late-model car, conversion would cost $2500 to $3000.

Ford New Zealand would bring out its LPG-dedicated Falcon next month, and had noted a lot of interest, spokeswoman Lisa Franklin said. Inquiries were linked to rising petrol prices.

- NZPA