First LPG fuel station in South Africa – 40% cheaper than petrol

KwaZulu-Natal-based Isinkwe Energies, in partnership with Ergon Equipment and Prins Autogas, has opened the first liquified petroleum gas (LPG) fuel station in South Africa.

“In terms of firsts, on the Autogas tech side, we’re the first company offering Autogas systems in KZN. We are also the first Autogas fuel site in KZN, and the first of its kind in South Africa,” said managing director Kyle Hartley.

At around R13 per litre at the Isinkwe site, LPG is roughly 41% cheaper than the current price of R21.91 per litre for Petrol 95 in coastal areas, said Hartley in an interview with MyBroadband.

However, LPG has a lower energy density than petrol and it therefore requires 0-10% more to achieve the same performance and driving range, depending on the size of the tank and the type of vehicle, said Hartley.

Isinkwe Energies provides Prins Autogas LPG conversions for customers in KZN, and it has already equipped the first 50 vehicles with Autogas systems which it claims provide overall cost savings of over 40% when compared to petrol.

The Prins Autogas kits are priced from R25,000 (excl. VAT) and there are several available, and installation costs R2,950 (excl. VAT).

With VAT, the total price comprising the kit and labour works out to approximately R32,143.

These systems are available for most major brands, including but not limited to Audi, BMW, Ford, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Renault, Suzuki, Toyota, Volvo, and VW. The full list of supported manufacturers can be found on the Prins Autogas Vehicle Database.

“Regardless of the application — cars, buses, trucks, industrial or marine — we offer a solution for almost all engine types and technologies,” said Prins Autogas.

“We ensure that our systems are in line with the latest developments in the industry through collaboration with our dedicated partners worldwide.”

What is LPG?

LPG is a type of fuel gas whose main components are flammable gases including propane and butane.

Large quantities of petroleum gases are released when extracting oil and natural gas, and refining crude oil for petrol and diesel. In the process, these emissions are compressed and converted into a liquid state, which creates LPG, according to Prins Autogas.

The company lists the advantages of LPG as:

Cheaper fuel costs
No power loss vs petrol
More environmentally friendly vs petrol
Ideal for petrol cars that are already on the road

The main drawbacks to LPG are that it is not as widely available and has a lower energy density than liquid petrol so more is needed to achieve the same results, however, the significantly lower cost still makes it an appealing alternative for motorists looking to reduce their spending on traditional fuel.