Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang is helping to improve air quality with a cleaner, quieter engine. The famous car has been converted to run on Calor Autogas and was exhibited last week in Bristol at the ALTER conference, a Europe-wide forum for local authorities to discuss air quality, transport and environment issues.
Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang was converted to LPG just over two years ago following the owners’ decision to become more environmentally friendly. Andrew Ford from calor, the UK’s leading supplier of LPG said: “Chitty, Chitty Bang, Bang really proves that any vehicle can benefit from converting to Autogas and it has certainly not lessened its appeal to fans. As air quality becomes more of an issue for all local authorities, it is particularly appropriate that Chitty is in Bristol supporting the ALTER conference.”
“Furthermore, in the Bristol City Council Air Quality Management Questionnaire 2001, 90% of people in Bristol were either concerned or very concerned about air pollution from traffic in the city and 89% believed air quality should be a high priority, showing how high on the agenda this debate should be for the council,” continued Andrew Ford.
There is a proven correlation between traffic pollution and hospital admissions and particulates emitted from diesel engines are a recognised health risk. The fine particles, smaller than a virus, enter the lungs, causing inflammation, asthma and other respiratory problems such as emphysema and chest pain. Some are also carcinogenic.
On average LPG vehicles produce 90% fewer particulates than even the cleanest ultra-low sulphur diesel engines. If all of the 158,000 cars that travel to work in Bristol were converted to LPG and travelled just 5 miles per day, the city centre could be saved 60,000 kg of NOx every year.
calor, is a major sponsor of the ALTER conference and presented a paper outlining new research from Stanford University. This research establishes for the first time a direct link between global warming and the soot particles emitted by motor vehicles.
Andrew Ford continued: “As well as the environmental benefits, with Autogas retailing at around half the price of petrol or diesel, businesses in Bristol make significant cost savings by converting their fleets. There are around 12 Autogas refuelling outlets in and around Bristol, so there is no excuse for not considering LPG a viable option.”
The ALTER (Alternative Traffic in Towns) project was launched in 1998 by the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott as his transport and environment initiative during the UK Presidency of the European Council. It aims, through joint action by European cities, to generate demand for cleaner fuels and vehicles. Some 120 European cities, including 35 UK local authorities have signed the Alter Declaration, to:
- Renew their own vehicles on a low emissions basis
- Convert where possible to cleaner fuels and power systems
- Introduce and progressively extend urban low emission or clean zones.
The UK’s LPG retail refuelling network reached 1,000 outlets at the end of 2001. Calor, the leading player, has committed to a further 400 outlets in 2002 and at the ALTER conference, will launch its Preferred Installer Scheme, expanding the network of approved engine conversion specialists.
Contact - Paul Oxford / Paul Hardwick
For further information call Calor Autogas on 0800 992200
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