Paul Oxford, sales development manager for Calor Autogas, was at the Copthorne Hotel in Brierley Hill recently to demonstrate the benefits of Autogas as part of the launch of the West Midlands’ Regional TravelWise Group’s ‘TravelWise Week’.
‘TravelWise Week’ is a major campaign designed to demonstrate how small changes to our travel patterns could have significant economic and lifestyle benefits. In a presentation to fleet managers and decision-makers across the region, Paul Oxford was on hand to prove the business case for Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) on a day allocated to ‘cleaner vehicles’.
“Autogas is the alternative fuel which is easy to adopt, readily available and offers real cost and environmental benefits for the fleet manager,” explained Paul Oxford. “The back to base refuelling approach is supported by a growing network of Autogas filling stations around the UK, and the tax differential, which allows Autogas to retail at half the price of petrol or diesel, will be maintained by Government until at least 2004. In addition, Powershift grants are available, which cover up to 70 per cent of conversion costs.”
As a result, fleet managers are increasingly showing interest in LPG as a real alternative fuel – a point that Paul Oxford believes is helped by the commitment to LPG shown by commercial vehicle manufacturers. “As well as the ease of converting existing vehicles to LPG, we’re seeing an increasing number of vehicles available as LPG models direct from the manufacturer,” he said. “Vauxhall, LDV and Daihatsu are examples that immediately spring to mind.”
Fleets currently running on LPG save up to 50 per cent on fuel costs, rapidly recouping the cost of the initial investment in the conversion of vehicles.
In addition to substantial fuel cost savings, fleet managers operating back to base fleets with on-site refuelling depots can benefit from such features as a fuel management system which operate via GSM phone link that can feed consumption data straight through to a PC. This technology allows for enhanced fuel control and constant vehicle consumption monitoring. Coupled with the reassurance of automatic tank refuelling, backed by Calor’s national supply chain, the only true UK-wide distribution network, fleet managers can be assured of unrivalled levels of management data and support.
TravelWise promotes sustainable transport covering all modes of transport including sensible use of the car. Each day of ‘TravelWise Week’ was themed on a different aspect of TravelWise including cleaner vehicles, alternative fuels, fuel-efficient driving, car sharing, home-working and cycling.
|
Calor Home Page
