A GREEK company specialising in converting cars to run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) yesterday presented its credentials in Nicosia to potential investors and the public, expounding on how they stood to benefit.
The cabinet last month said it was allowing the introduction of LPG cars, paving the way for a cheaper and greener fuel.
And yesterday, Greek based company Gas Theodorou told people they had been in Cyprus since 2009, “anticipating” the time when people would look to convert their cars, said the company’s Giorgos Papadopoulos.
Gas Theodorou runs Gas Service in Greece, a network of conversion outlets that convert and service cars using Italian technology parts, Zavoli.
There are plans for five stations in Cyprus, one in each district, which will be part of the Gas Service network but the company hopes it will grow in the coming year.
“We run the biggest LPG-specialised network in Greece, to fit any specific car model so the vehicle’s factory specifications are adhered to,” Papadopoulos said.
A sign guided those interested – the public, mechanics, and potential investors – through a carpeted maze at Nicosia’s Cleopatra Hotel to a hallway leading to a conference space.
“I’m here to see if this could be a good investment,” said Nicos Kkais who added that he was at the presentation on behalf of others.
Others wanted to know how they could receive training to convert cars to LPG.
And a man wanted to know if a diesel-run car could be converted, to be told that right now it’s could not because that kind of conversion was currently more viable for much bigger vehicles.
The costs quoted for conversion run between €1,200 and €1,800 depending on the vehicle.
LPG is a blend of propane and butane that can be produced from natural gas or as a by-product of oil refining. Its emissions are less harmful than those of petrol making it environmentally friendlier. It is also cheaper
“The public is interested in the environment but also cost saving,” Papadopoulos said.
Gas Service claims to fit cars so that fuel efficiency is more or less the same at a usage of 10.5 litres per 100 km for LPG versus 10lt/100km for fuel.
They also claim that the vehicle performance is not compromised.
Given the efficiency claims, Gas Service says that drivers will be able to halve their fuel costs if they use LPG exclusively.
Conversion will result in dual-propulsion engine so that drivers can choose between LPG and conventional fuels. Converting will take up precious boot space when installing a new tank which has only 80 per cent of stated capacity – as all LPG tanks, Papadopoulos said.
The cabinet has set as a goal a year for different departments to draw up legislative changes, commerce minister Neoclis Sylikiotis said in September.
Different ministries will need to cooperate for this to be done, Sylikiotis said: the labour inspection department, the road transport department, the state’s legal services, among others.
Nicosia’s Gas Service official outlet, Marcos Marcou, said they were talked with state stakeholders and were pushing to expedite procedures, and ensure legislation “benefits the consumer”.

Published by :www.cyprus-mail.com