The Australian Government announced the LPG Vehicle Scheme on 14 August 2006 to assist private use motorists with the conversion of a new or used petrol or diesel motor vehicle or the purchase of a new LPG vehicle.

Three different grants are currently available subject to program eligibility criteria:

1. a grant of $2,000 for the LPG conversion of a new or used petrol or diesel motor vehicle; (Note: The 2009 Budget advised this grant will reduce as follows:
- $1,750 from 1/7/2009
- $1,500 from 1/7/2010
- $1,250 from 1/7/2011
- $1,000 from 1/7/2012 until 30/6/2014.

2. a grant of $1,000 for the purchase of a new motor vehicle with a LPG unit fitted at the time of manufacture, for vehicles purchased before 10 November 2008;

3. a grant of $2,000 for the purchase of a new motor vehicle with an LPG unit fitted at the time of manufacture, for vehicles purchased on or after 10 November 2008.

For further information on the LPG Vehicle Scheme including eligibility requirements and downloading customer documents including the latest application form, please go to the AusIndustry web site.

The time taken to install an Autogas conversion varies depending on a number of factors including tank options, the number of cylinders and so on. A typical family sedan with a single boot-mounted tank should take two to three days, whilst a large four-wheel drive with multiple tanks might take a week.

Typical conversion costs range from $2,500 to $4,500 depending on the type of vehicle and the licensed installer you select. However, the costs can be recouped in as little as 18 months thanks to the savings made at the pump every time you fill up. Of course, once you recover the initial conversion costs the savings mount quickly.

To calculate how quickly Autogas can put you into the black, use the PAYBACK CALCULATOR on the right hand side of this page.

CLICK HERE to view a List of Vehicles for which there are LPG systems available. (Note: This is not a complete list and will change as we receive more information from LPG equipment suppliers. Use this list only as a guide and consult your installer/equipment supplier for the most up-to-date information.)

Autogas is typically at least 50 percent cheaper than other automotive fuels, meaning you will save money at the pump from day one. For example if over the course of a year Autogas averaged 55 cents per litre, while unleaded petrol averaged $1.40 per litre, a Holden Commodore driver travelling 23,000 kilometres a year on Autogas would save $1,764 – the equivalent of $33 per week.

To work out your potential savings, use our SAVINGS CALCULATOR on the Home Page, or use our PAYBACK CALCULATOR located to the right of this page and in several other sections of the site. Calculations exclude the benefits of Federal (and State) Government grants (rebate).

• In cold starting the vehicle does not require a choke cycle to warm up.
• In addition Autogas does not wash the protective lubricant from cylinder walls.
• Autogas significantly reduces the build-up of carbon on internal engine components, reducing engine wear.
• There is no sludge formation in the engine.

Used Autogas-powered vehicles can be cheaper to maintain than their petrol-powered equivalents. Savings include:

• Fewer oil and filter changes
• Longer exhaust life
• Cleaner spark plugs

Modern Autogas engine systems are designed to be safe in use, safe to repair and safe in a vehicle accident. All LPG tanks are rigorously tested and much stronger than conventional petrol tanks. In a crash, they can withstand enormous impact forces without deforming.

Other mandated safety features include:

• Two electronically controlled shut-off solenoids (on cylinder and under bonnet) which stop the flow of gas to the engine if the engine stops for any reason


• Pressure relief valves for the tank and the system, to prevent any pressure build up that may damage the system, or be hazardous


• Double back-check valves to ensure gas tight filling


• Sealed compartments and venting around valves and pipe-work to ensure no LPG enters the interior of the vehicle.

Autogas systems fitted by an installer after new vehicle purchase are generally warranted by the installer. The terms and conditions of the warranty vary so you should check these before purchase. Extended warranty period options are now available through some installers.

If you choose to have an Autogas system fitted to your vehicle, use only a licenced LPG Autogas installer. To find the one closest to you use our INSTALLERS feature.

Your insurance company should be informed of the modification to Autogas, and you should ask them to revise the sum insured to reflect the replacement cost of the Autogas system.

On Autogas, torque is available at lower engine revs, which aids driveability – particularly in stop/start city driving. In some cases total torque is actually increased.

The power output of engines with Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) is, when converted to run on Autogas, usually only slightly lower than on petrol. Where possible, the Autogas system is interfaced with the original EFI computer. While top speed may be marginally reduced and acceleration times cut by fractions of a second, most drivers would be unlikely to detect the difference.

The fuel economy of Autogas-powered vehicles depends on a range of factors but on average, vehicles running on Autogas use approximately 30 percent more fuel than petrol-powered equivalents. Remember, however, that this is more than offset by the much lower cost of Autogas, which is typically half the price or less than unleaded petrol.

If, for example, you are driving from Sydney to Brisbane via the Pacific Highway, there are 109 Autogas outlets on the way. That means that on average, you would pass an Autogas filling station every 9km and the furthest distance between stops is just 72km. To find out more about the spread of Autogas outlets, use our TRIP PLANNER feature.

LPG Autogas powered vehicles emit significantly fewer greenhouse gases and other pollutants than petrol-powered equivalents. LPG typically has around 20 per cent less ozone forming potential (a measure of the tendency to generate photochemical smog), between 10 and 15 per cent lower greenhouse gas emissions and only one fifth air toxics emissions.

LPG Autogas vehicles operate even more relatively cleanly when the engine is cold. Given that most urban-use vehicles are often used for very short journeys this means a significant reduction in “real world” emissions.