LPG Autogas Centre of Excellence opens in Melbourne

Melbourne, 12 December 2017: A new LPG Autogas Centre of Excellence has been opened in Victoria to meet the future needs of Australian fleet operators, after an ABMARC study identified demand for 160,000 new autogas vehicles between 2018 and 2025.

A joint initiative between Unigas, Prixcar and Sprint Gas, the Autogas Centre of Excellence will provide Australian fleet operators with direct access to a low-cost, high quality LPG installation service for new vehicles through port of entry or dealerships.

John Coggins, Senior Business Manager at Unigas said this is an important partnership that shows a strong commitment by the industry to support fleet operators that want to take advantage of the abundant supply, cost and environmental benefits of LPG.

“There is still a strong role for autogas in Australia. With local supply and national infrastructure including 2,700 autogas-enabled service stations, this cleaner fuel can provide strong fuel security and availability now and well into the future,” said Mr Coggins.

“This new facility provides a strict quality control at a similar standard to an OEM facility – with highly experienced autogas system designers, manufacturers and skilled vehicle fitters that streamline installation processes to ensure competitive conversion costs.”

13CABS is the first fleet operator to take advantage of the new facility, with an order currently underway to convert 100 new Toyota Camry Hybrid vehicles from petrol-electric to a tri-fuel system that uses LPG.

Greg Hardeman, Fleet Operations Manager at 13CABS said by installing a Sprint Gas Sequential Vapour Injection LPG system into new Toyota Camry Hybrids, the company is reducing carbon emissions further and minimising operating and maintenance costs.

“13CABS is committed to reducing emissions and improving air quality in the cities where we operate by encouraging cleaner alternative fuels and new technologies across our fleet,” said Mr Hardeman.

“While the Toyota Camry Hybrid with its petrol-electric drive is already one of the most economical cars in the market, with a tri-fuel system using LPG, the vehicle delivers even more environmental and cost benefits,” added Mr Hardeman.

In-use testing and calculations by 13CABS has shown the Toyota Camry Hybrid with LPG produces fuel cost savings of up to 45 percent, with a payback on conversion of just over six months. Switching to LPG also reduces carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 3.45 tonnes per vehicle. Figures are based on the average taxi travelling 150,000 kilometres per year.

The Autogas Centre of Excellence is now taking orders for 2018. For more information call 1300 654 756 or visit www.unigas.com.au/smart-fleet-solutions/.

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About Elgas/Unigas: Unigas is the autogas division of Elgas, Australia’s leading supplier of LPG products for home, businesses, autos and BBQ customers. Elgas operates the only underground storage facility in the Southern Hemisphere with a capacity of 65,000 metric tonnes, guaranteeing long term supply. For more information, www.elgas.com.au.

About Sprint Gas: Sprint Gas (Aust) Pty Ltd was founded more than 40 years ago and has become the leader in the industry supplying a diverse range of LPG conversion systems and components to installers in Australia and New Zealand. Local technical expertise and a global supplier network ensures that all Sprint Gas products maintain their exceptional quality and performance levels throughout their service life. The business is based in Melbourne, Australia with a branch in Brisbane, as well as distributors in other states. For more information, www.sprintgas.com.au.   

About PrixCar: PrixCar Services Pty Ltd, an Australian company with AS/NZS 14001:2004 accreditation, is committed to providing quality services to meet our clients’ specific needs. These services include processing, storage, rectification, vehicle commissioning & decommissioning and project management for Australia’s automotive manufacturers, importers, distributors and various government and private organisations. For more information, www.prixcar.com.au.

About 13CABS: Founded in 1946, 13CABS is the leading personal transport business in Australia and manages a fleet of over 8,500 vehicles and more than 20,000 Drivers. Visit www.13CABS.com.au for more information.