this post was submitted on 23 Mar 2026
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18
This fuel costs as little at 80c a litre in Australia. So why isn't everyone using it? (www.sbs.com.au)
submitted 1 day ago by okwithmydecay@leminal.space to c/australia@aussie.zone
19 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

It's half the price of regular unleaded, produced in Australia and comparably lower in emissions than petrol — yet the number of service stations offering LPG is dwindling across the country.

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[–] No1@aussie.zone 3 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

Before the rise of renewables and electric/battery, I thought LPG sounded pretty good:

  • energy independence: we have huge reserves of this stuff
  • less polluting than petrol, diesel, coal etc
  • some good improving tech eg VPI, LPI, LPDI for cars (At one stage when I was looking at it, you could generate more power from some LPG systems than from petrol)
  • every taxi couldn't be wrong!

Now I'd rather go renewables, but if there's any cases where dino juices are required, I still wonder if LPG is the best of the bad choices. Eg, if we HAVE to have an electric plant that's not renewables, then wouldn't LPG be better? And don't mention nuclear, or I will go nuclear!

[–] CompactFlax@discuss.tchncs.de 30 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

It is volatile, unreliable to obtain (chances are you’re better off with an EV if you want to avoid petrol), contains less energy than petrol, and is a fossil fuel.

[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 21 points 1 day ago

Ahhh we're on the LPG conversion phase of the petrol crisis. Last time LPG was a lot more readily available though.

[–] SaneMartigan@aussie.zone 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I had an LPG car, fuck LPG. Improve cycling infrastructure.

[–] Greyghoster@aussie.zone 15 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Seems a backwards step. The way forward is electric so why fluff around wasting money?

[–] MisterFrog@aussie.zone 11 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Gotta prop up the gas industry you see.

The propaganda has been so successful people don't realise how terriblr cooking with gas is compared to induction.

Hell, I even prefer the glass top resistive electric, so much easier to clean than gas stoves.

[–] luthis@lemmy.nz 15 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Because very few cars are LPG. I worked at a gas station for several years and saw maybe 2 LPG cars

[–] FippleStone@aussie.zone 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Service station or petrol station please, calling it gas is an Americanism

[–] luthis@lemmy.nz 4 points 18 hours ago

My apologies, I worked at a petrol station.

[–] thatKamGuy@sh.itjust.works 14 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Most LPG cars I’ve ever encountered were Commodores and Falcons (both factory and aftermarket).

Even though now, more than ever, with the increased size of vehicles on the road (thanks to the massive uptick in US-style „trucks”) LPG conversions make sense on paper - there are a LOT of pain-points:

  1. Upfront cost of conversion is high
  2. Requires an additional fuel tank, taking up precious room in trays
  3. Difficult to find servos that still carry LPG
  4. Fuel capacity is lower, requiring fill ups more often - especially as usage rate is ~20% higher per 100km
  5. The rotting cabbage additives added to make leaks noticeable
  6. Connection can be a pain in the ass to screw on when filling up
  7. Reductions to torque and horsepower can make vehicles feel sluggish

I’m sure there are a bunch of other reasons I’m missing just off the top of my head.

Honestly, for people who live in other suburbia and can’t get by on public transport, a switch to a combination of pure EVs, PHEVs and/or hybrids where the engine is purely a generator would be a much better long-term solution.

[–] King_Bob_IV@startrek.website 6 points 1 day ago

Inability to park in underground parking lots. Or really most parking structures. I have seen lots of parking expressly forbid LPG due to it being heavier than air and a risk if it pools.

[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

mate of mine converted his divvy to a hybrid. Doesn't drive it as much now though as it's now got heritage plates

[–] thatKamGuy@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Given how far EV batteries have come over the past decade alone, I’m surprised we don’t see more EV/Hybrid conversion kits available on the market.

[–] zurohki@aussie.zone 1 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago)

Hybrids are very complicated mechanically, I'm not surprised hybrid conversions aren't a thing.

EV conversions do exist, it's just that they're too expensive to be worthwhile. You mostly only see classic cars converted.

You pay $20,000 for the hardware, another $15,000 for mechanics to spend a week or two gutting and rebuilding your car and wind up with a car with a worn interior, suspension, steering, etc, no modern features and a short range for more than the price of a brand new long range EV.

If you want an EV, you're much better off selling your car and buying a used EV.

[–] TheHolm@aussie.zone 5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Is there any station with LPG left? I have not seen any for ages.

[–] fizzle@quokk.au 2 points 1 day ago

The ones here have taken their LPG tanks out.

[–] Chef_Boyargee@aussie.zone 1 points 1 day ago

The Shell by the Brisbane Airport has lpg

[–] Ilandar@lemmy.today 5 points 1 day ago

In Adelaide it was only ever used by taxis. Nowadays many are hybrids or full electrics instead (especially in the case of ride share drivers) so no one really uses it.