What is LPG and should I convert to it?

LPG stands for liquefied petroleum gas and is a type of 'liquid gas' that can be used as fuel for a variety of purposes, including powering cars.

Also referred to as butane and propane gas, or autogas in motoring circles it is the by-product of the processing of natural gas liquids as well as the refining of crude oil.

While traditionally it was deliberately burnt off and wasted, it’s now recognised as a versatile low-carbon fuel – and used productively.

Although the phrase ‘liquid gas’ appears to be a contradiction in terms, it actually describes a clear gas that turns to liquid when subjected to pressure or cooling: it’s this characteristic that allows it to be stored in tanks in a vehicle.

Most petrol cars can be fitted with an LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) conversion, turning them into ‘dual-fuel cars’ that can run on LPG as well as petrol.

The LPG fuel tank is added to the boot, taking up boot space and making the car slightly heavier

The advantage of this is clear when you look at filling station prices for the two fuels: LPG fuel typically costs around half the price of petrol.

Although cars are unlikely to be more fuel-efficient when running on LPG, you could still soon halve your fuel bills. Once the cost of the LPG conversion has been paid off, this could add up to a significant saving – and the more you drive, the more you save.