The Ministry of Transport has shortened the process of converting cars to liquid petroleum gas (LPG) from two weeks to three days. Demand for these vehicles is growing.
Starting yesterday, converting a car from gasoline to LPG will take only 72 hours. The process includes installing a system at an authorized garage, and a change in structure at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
The new procedure eliminates a set of requirements, including a practical test and a permit from an examiner. The Ministry of Transport say the change is aimed at encourage use of LPG, given higher oil prices and more stringent pollution restrictions on gasoline engines.
500 cars have already been converted to LPG gas, and 20 garages are ready to install the necessary LPG kits. The ministry is also considering permitting conversion to LPG of vehicles manufactured before 1995.
Due to its tax exemption, LPG costs half as much as 95 octane gasoline. It is feared that the Ministry of Finance may levy taxes on LPG after 2006 in order to prevent the loss of hundreds of millions of shekels in tax revenue.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on November 16, 2005