Why LPG?
- Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LP Gas, is a derivative of two large energy industries: natural gas processing and crude oil refining
- LPG is used across the world as a source of energy for heating, cooking and vehicles
- LPG is very clean burning and has lower greenhouse gas emissions and NOx emissions than any other fossil fuel when measured on a total fuel cycle
- In 2013, a major pan-European study of the emissions of more than 9,000 vehicles conducted by Dr Eric Johnson revealed that a bi-fuel LP Autogas Ford Focus significantly outperformed petrol and diesel versions of the same model across CO2 emissions and particulate matter.
- Compared with diesel vehicles, the study also found that LP Autogas emits five times less harmful NOx emissions – a major element of low level ozone, which causes smog and are a significant source of air pollution.
THE Supreme Court has ordered the UK to draw up an air pollution clean-up plan. We believe that LPG can play a significant role in cleaning up city air.
New research from The Millbrook Evidence Report, commissioned by UKLPG, demonstrates automotive LPG could play a significant role in the transport sector by 2050.
Compared with diesel, LPG contains fewer pollutants that are harmful to human health, while in comparison with petrol and diesel, LPG emits lower levels of CO2.
Widely available for use in vehicles in the UK since 2000, around 150,000 drivers benefit from automotive LPG, available at more than 1,400 refuelling sites across the UK. Vehicles powered by automotive LPG are much less harmful to the environment, emitting significantly fewer harmful pollutants such as CO2, NOx and particulate matter than petrol or diesel models.
Millbrook’s Evidence Report highlights the potential for automotive LPG to take an ongoing role within the UK’s current transport mix both as a mono and dual fuel. I see Automotive LPG as a strong partner for future technologies, as the fuel possesses significant scope to work with fuel cells, plug-in hybrids and APU types.
Following the Supreme Court’s pre-election ruling that the government must produce a new air quality plan by the end of 2015, the incoming minister will need to set out a number of policies to ensure the UK reaches compliance with EU nitrogen dioxide limits; I am urging the minister to adopt a series of measures to improve air quality in the UK and meet its EU targets.
LPG is an incredibly versatile, plentiful and clean fuel, which deserves far greater recognition for its air quality, low-carbon and cost effective benefits than it currently is given credit for.
I am keen that we can work together with the automotive industry and policy makers to develop the future of low-carbon road transport in which automotive LPG plays a key role.
The Millbrook Evidence Report, commissioned by UKLPG, is called: “The Future of LPG and its Use as an Automotive Fuel over the Next 35 Years (February 2015)”
