Channel NewsAsia - 1 hour 35
minutes ago
3 more CNG
stations to open by end of 2008
SINGAPORE: Soaring petrol prices have prompted drivers to look for
cheaper fuel alternatives.
One alternative is to go for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cars. A
company selling CNG cars sold 80 of them at a road show on Sunday.
It usually sells about 100 cars a week.
To cater to more CNG cars which are cleaner, greener and cheaper
than normal cars three more CNG stations are due to open by the end
of the year.
Bifuel petrolCNG cars are a major draw for motorists. It costs
more than S$3,000 to retrofit the car before it can use CNG, but
S$10 of CNG can allow one to travel up to 220 kilometres.
New cars fitted with CNG technology benefit from the Green Tax
Rebate, which is 40 percent off the cars open market value
(OMV).
Valerie Tan, managing director of Pinnacle International, said:
"For example, you have bought a car with an OMV of S$30,000, so you
have a straight rebate from the government 40 percent off S$30,000,
which is S$12,000 off."
But many motorists still want to know how the CNG fuel would affect
the cars performance.
Melvin Toh, potential petrolCNG car owner, said: "Before I tested,
I thought, Would there be any difference in acceleration? Would
the ride be smooth? Would there be any loading?. But after I test
drove the car, honestly, I couldnt feel any difference."
"I tested two cars. I found the drive quite smooth, even when you
change from petrol to CNG and back again. The car didnt have any
jerky movement," said Patrick Wong, another potential petrolCNG
car owner.
But owning a petrolCNG car in Singapore is not all smooth driving.
Besides the fact that the gas tank takes up a large amount of space
in the boot of the car, those who own bifuel cars and live in the
eastern parts of Singapore find it harder to refuel.
At present, there is only one refuelling station on Jurong
Island.
Three more stations are due to open this year one in Mandai by
midFebruary, another in Jalan Buroh in Jurong by endFebruary and
the third in Serangoon North Avenue 5 by years end.
There are currently no plans to build a refuelling station in the
east because most of the gas pipelines are situated in the west of
Singapore.
CNG is listed as a hazardous material, so strict controls are in
place and transportation is only allowed on certain roads.
CNA/so
