More Singapore motorists opt for bi-fuel cars to cut costs, save environment

Channel NewsAsia 18 Apr 08;

SINGAPORE: More motorists are converting their cars to run on two types of fuel - compressed natural gas (CNG) and regular petrol.

In Singapore, CNG conversion workshop C. Melchers-Galileo has taken the lead in converting regular cars to bi-fuel cars. It has seen a 50 per cent increase in demand since last November.

Gilbert von der Aue, sales manager at C. Melchers, said: "We started last November in this workshop. Ever since then, we've done 400 cars. We convert 80 cars per month currently, and from next month onwards we'll be doing 120 cars. We have a waiting list of about six months."

The initial outlay cost to convert a regular car is almost S$4,000. But in the long term, it will cost less to own a bi-fuel car.

"CNG is so much cheaper than petrol. It's about a third the cost of petrol. So I would save about 70 per cent if I drive on CNG instead of driving on petrol. On top of that, CNG runs cleaner so I don't have to do an oil change as often as I would if I had a petrol or diesel engine."

"It makes sense financially. You just have to pay one time but you save the environment. That's the whole reason for it," said a member of the public.

"If it's safe, if it's more economical, why not?" said another.

C. Melchers said it is targeting middle- to lower-income Singaporeans because they are the ones who will benefit the most from cost savings.

But when it comes to cars, cost is definitely not the only consideration.

"For me, I prefer performance cars. It's great to save the world, but I didn't get this car for nothing. I won't be converting soon," said a member of the public who drives a sports car.

But more may change their minds as petrol prices continue to rise. Currently, a litre of 95-octane unleaded petrol costs about S$2.08, but a kilogramme of CNG only costs between S$1.18 and S$1.24.

However, not everyone is swayed, because right now there are only two stations accessible to the public on mainland Singapore - one at Jalan Buroh in Jurong and the other at Mandai Road in the north.

Three more stations will be ready by the end of this year - at Jalan Bukit Merah, Bedok and Serangoon North. - CNA/ac