DC-Gas

Citizens find answer to rising petrol prices in LPG run cars
Kapil Dixit, TNN Sep 6, 2011, 10.48am

ISTTags:PetrolLPG

ALLAHABAD: With LPG auto gas available at three filling stations in the Sangam city, showroom owners are receiving more and more queries for cars that can run on LPG and petrol.

"Sale of DUO (Petrol and LPG) mode cars is undoubtedly picking up in the market as compared to petrol run cars," said a sales executives. Analysts too feel that the car industry continues to face a challenging environment at this moment with high interest rates and fuel prices as big dampeners. Also the choppy markets and high inflammation are also acting as negative factors.

Currently, companies are backing on new models, including DUOs and the coming festive season, where demand usually peaks, to realise the growth.


Abhishek Kumar Srivastava, an executive at a showroom, says, "Buyers are more interested in DUO-fuel run mode cars. Rising fuel prices and interest rates have been instrumental in this sluggish market trend."

Though petrol-run cars are readily available at showrooms, if you want to go for a duo-petrol and LPG run car, the waiting period is around 15-20 days. Apart from petrol, people are also asking about diesel run cars but they are also apprehensive that prices of diesel could rise in future.

The demand in DUO segment has undoubtedly increased since petrol price rise has been disturbing the buyers. In past two months, over 150 cars of DUO mode were sold out in compared to 60 of petrol run cars, said a sales executive.

Increasing petrol prices have also diverted the attention of car owners towards government authorised dealers who deal in commercial LPG car kits. The RTO has been receiving over 5-10 applications on routine basis for the installation of approved LPG kit.

"Most people are approaching RTO seeking permission to install LPG kit-run and strength of such applications have increased in the last three months," said an RTO official adding that over 1,500 cars are currently running on LPG kits in the district alone he added. Running a car on LPG is much cheaper than petrol.

Since all the three LPG filling stations are working, a big section of car lovers have already switched over to duo models of cars (run either on petrol or LPG) or have got LPG kits installed. They are waiting for the day when they would be able to spend less on fuel.

"As there were no chances of petrol prices coming down, it was better for us to purchase DUO model car," said Arvind Singh who purchased a DUO mode car last month.

Mohd Aman, who also purchased a DUO model car, says, "There is a little hope of petrol prices coming down and this might go up in near future. So it was my family idea to purchase DUO mode car to bear the expenses easily. LPG auto stations are working successfully, we are easily affording our travel expenses."

The three LPG filling stations set up at Chintamani Road, Phaphamau and Jhunsi are witnessing adequate customers.

The frequent rise in fuel prices has led to an unprecedented rush in the demand for LPG auto gas admitted a senior IOC official.

Auto experts claim that car buyers prefer duo model of cars as running on LPG is costs less (Rs 1.75 to cover one km on LPG). Car owners find LPG-run cars cheaper and affordable and more and more owners are willing to install LPG kits, said an auto expert Devendra Dixit.