Dave and Barb’s rig is powered by LPG ... when it’s available!
When grey nomads Dave and Barb Brightman first hit the open road they thought they would be cooking – or at least driving – on gas for decades to come. Now, they’re not so sure.
Like many other long-term travellers, the couple were lured into using LPG at a time it was touted to be ‘the’ economical and environmentally friendly motoring solution.
However, the fuel that was once so highly thought of that, in 2006, the Government was offering a $2,000 rebate for customers willing to convert their petrol cars to LPG, has fallen on hard times.
As the Brightmans are finding out to their cost, LPG prices are rising sharply and LPG bowsers are disappearing from outlets across the country as customers and car manufacturers abandon the fuel in favour of hybrid or diesel.
The problem appears most acute in the remote and regional areas where the Brightmans and other grey nomads do most of their traveling.
“Last year on our annual escape from winter we found that the number of service stations with LPG had significantly lessened,” said Dave. “In order to continue, we had to do long distances on petrol and that took the economic shine out of our adventures.”
Having had a government-subsidised LPG conversion carried out on the petrol-only Falcon ute they bought in 2010, the Brightmans now feel badly let down. Given the fact they haul a Knudsden 22’ fifth wheeler, they are naturally sensitive to the cost of fuel.
“After the enticement of a subsidised conversion we have now found that the goalposts have been moved,” said Dave. “Now unless the government comes to its senses, we will have our travels regulated by government approved LPG refuelling stops.”
Dave has fired off a series of letters and emails to politicians and fuel suppliers but says he has had little encouragement.
“Having planned my retirement activity around what I can afford I find I am left with a perfectly good vehicle and an isolation created by politicians who have been asleep at the wheel,” he said.
In Western Australia, the RAC motoring organisation said the availability of LPG has been declining for some time, a trend it says is likely to continue.
“In recent times we’ve seen a hike in the cost of LPG, which means people are likely to be reconsidering the cost benefits and, unfortunately, lower demand from motorists means retailers are continually reassessing whether it’s still viable to stock LPG,” said RAC Manager Vehicles and Sustainability, Alex Forrest. “Regional areas, which already had more sparsely-spread LPG outlets, have been hit particularly hard by these changes … our advice is to plan ahead.”
None of which is of much comfort to the Brightmans!
Our big lap on auto gas 8 years ago was an easy challenge, just using petrol as a reserve to get to the next lpg pump. Nowadays we cannot rely on finding a working pump outside of capital cities. With the gas tank replacing the auxiliary petrol tank we have to sweat on reaching every fuel stop in regional areas.
Yes, definitely harder thesedays to find Autogas Bowsers that are working or a Servo that used to sell Autogas now Shutdown the Bowsers.
Answers I’ve had are,
Autogas bowsers to costly to repair,
Not as many vehicles using Autogas thesedays.
Bowsers and gas tanks have been removed.
Also no Government Grants (previously $2000) anymore for fitting LPG to a vehicle thesedays.
The Excise on LPG has increased every year over the last 10 yrs or more increasing the consumer costs.
Ridiculous that our Government don’t continue the Grants for fitment of gas, as a Cleaner running fuel which we have plenty of in Australia.
I love the application of LPG on our Diesel vehicle which I’ve had for 13 yrs, as it gives a cleaner exhaust, better fuel economy and extended oil changes because of far less Fuel dilution.
In the far north of WA in 2017 I couldn’t get Gas for 6 x tanks of diesel fuel used, as most were Shutdown.
Cheers Kevin.
We did Cairns to Adelaide in ford auto ute with C’van, on 2 gas and 1 back up fuel and really enjoyed those drives, twice, but as the big two supers Coles and Woolies took over servo’s they pulled and are still pulling all the gas bousers out. We had to stop using LPG and get rid of the Ford. So sad for a good idea that the Govt didn’t have the guts to back in. You can still get LPG from Choice but your LPG fuel economy will soon diminish and the engine runs like shit and the same goes for their petrol, and I don’t say this lightly as we kept complete records.
I wish you well in your adventure and hope you find more gas
Good Luck, Bob from Mackay Qld.