If you drive a car that runs on LPG, you might have noticed it’s getting harder to find a place to fill up. Over the past 10 years, the number of service stations selling LPG in Western Australia has dropped from 329 to just 50. Most of the remaining outlets are between Mindarie and Mandurah.
As of earlier this year you can no longer fill your car up with LPG in the Great Southern, and there are only four retailers left in the South West. It’s also slim pickings if you’re heading north, with just two retailers selling LPG between Yanchep and Geraldton. Although, you may find LPG still being sold in remote locations outside the areas FuelWatch covers.
There has been a consistent fall in demand over the years, not just in WA but Australia-wide. Some people might remember when government rebates were offered to convert vehicles to LPG. These incentives stopped in 2010, meaning many motorists decided it was no longer worth the expense to convert.
The next blow came with the introduction of a Federal Government excise on LPG sales, causing prices at the pump to gradually increase. Then there has been the introduction of hybrids and EVs. Not only has this reduced general interest in LPG vehicles but it has significantly impacted taxi, rideshare and fleet vehicle use of LPG too. When was the last time you saw a taxi that ran on gas?
Finally, over the past 20 years vehicles with internal combustion engines have become increasingly more fuel efficient and so interest in LPG as a fuel type is quickly disappearing and converting a car to use it is no longer economical.
There are around 1.6 million vehicles that use unleaded petrol in WA, compared to only 20,000 that use LPG. Unfortunately, these numbers don’t stack up for the retailers to continue to service a tiny market.
Outlets that do still sell LPG have raised their retail margins to stay profitable, but most, if not all, are currently operating at a loss with this product. Because of this, FuelWatch expects LPG availability will continue to decline over the coming years.
Where does that leave motorists who are struggling to find a place to fill up with LPG? If your car has dual tanks, consider only filling up with unleaded petrol, as it is likely to be more cost effective. If your car runs on LPG only, consider whether it’s a viable option to trade it in.
Spend a few minutes searching fuelwatch.wa.gov.au to find the cheapest fuel near you. If you don’t have access to the internet, you can call Consumer Protection on 1300 30 40 54 and an officer will gladly assist you with fuel prices.