Despite recent mishaps involving LPG-fuelled cars that have left some people more than a little worried, many drivers are still choosing cooking gas to power their cars during this time of high oil prices.

Many owners of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas)-modified cars are also ignoring safety warnings and orders for them to register with the Land Transport Department, says Thani Sueb-rit, a mechanic at the department.

The department has ordered that all vehicles with engines modified to be fuelled by gas must undergo safety checks by authorised mechanics and be registered with the department within 15 days.

Unfortunately, drivers are not complying because there are only 14 authorised service centres that can assure the safety of the modifications and issue certificates, Thani said.

"And the main reason [for not complying with the order] is that most owners don't want their cars to be recorded as LPG-modified vehicles," he said.

They believe that recording the car as modified in this way would affect the car's re-sale price. And because of this the owners are willing to break the law, which only imposes a fine of Bt200 for non-compliance, Thani said.

"If I want to sell my car, I just have to remove the LPG container and no one would know it had been modified," said one car owner.

"Most people would prefer not to buy an LPG car because they think it has been used as a taxi, which lowers the price," he said.

There are about 20,000 LPG cars registered with the department - 90 per cent of which are taxis, according to department records.

"If private cars weren't registered, no one could check if they had been modified safely. And we would probably see more news about LPG cars exploding or catching fire because of that," said Thani.

LPG engines themselves aren't dangerous, but substandard modifications make them risky, said garage owner Sirichai Siradapuvadol, who has been providing an LPG modification service for about two years.

While more and more garages offering LPG engine modification are opened to serve drivers during the oil-price crisis, no one can guarantee their safety and standards.

Many of the garages could illegally issue their customers with safety certificates without really having had the car checked by a mechanic authorised by the Land Transport Department.

"I admit that more than half of the garages [offering these services] are substandard. The mechanics don't have the experience, skills and knowledge to carry out the work properly and safely," said Sirichai.

"There is no official authority looking after us. Anyone wanting to provide LPG modification services can do so without asking permission from any authority," he said.

While the department has no authority to control these garages, it is drafting a law to standardise them, Thani said.

The problem with the heavy LPG is that if it leaks, the gas remains at ground level and could therefore be ignited by a spark. Natural gas, however, is safer since it is much lighter and disperses if it leaks.

The Energy Ministry and PTT Plc have been heavily promoting NGVs (natural gas vehicles), which they say are more efficient and safer in the long term. However, most people still prefer LPG.

"There seem to be more stations providing fuel for LPG vehicles than for NGVs. To prevent accidents from LPG leaking, I just have to be more careful and check my car more often," said Mayuree Sukyingcharoenwong, who had her car modified to use LPG just over two weeks ago.

There are 193 service stations in Bangkok providing LPG fuel 24-hours a day, with new stations opening every day. Meanwhile, only 62 stations nationwide provide NGV fuel. Cheaper modification and a lighter container are also reasons why LPG is more popular.

Mechanic Methi Eak-aksorn, of Pira Auto Garage, said his LPG modification service was now fully booked until August. 

Chatrarat Kaewmorakot

The Nation