At the end of last year, the European LPG Association (Liquid Gas Europe) published an analysis of policies to promote the use of autogas in 25 countries, including Canada, the US, China, India, Mexico, and most European Union member states, including Bulgaria.
According to the statistics presented in the document, global autogas consumption is increasing, reaching 26.2 million tons in 2018, with nearly 27 million vehicles using propane-butane. There has been a significant increase in the use of LPG in Ukraine, unlike in the US, where it accounts for 0.03% of the market. The analysis also shows that autogas accounts for over 10% of the total automotive fuel market in Bulgaria and Poland.
The section of the report containing data for Bulgaria notes that the autogas market as a whole is showing steady growth, although in 2017 its consumption reached 405,000 tons, and for 2018 it amounted to 395,000 tons.
The number of autogas vehicles has more than doubled since 1990, reaching 490,000 cars, or about 13% of the total vehicle fleet. According to statistics, there were 2,800 gas stations in Bulgaria offering autogas in 2018.
The policies that stimulate the sale of autogas in the country are related to the lower excise duty compared to other fuels and the relatively cheap wholesale price.
National policies to encourage the use of environmentally friendly fuel are important for its widespread adoption. As expected, the Association notes that the most effective policies are those that help autogas compete with gasoline and diesel by providing strong financial incentives for end users to switch to propane-butane.
The main conclusions reached by the analysis are as follows:
- Strict national policies are needed to stimulate the development of the autogas market. Data shows that government measures are effective when they are long-term.
- Non-financial incentives are also important, such as raising consumer awareness of the advantages of autogas and dispelling the myth that its use is dangerous.
- Environmental policies should also be introduced to limit the use of fuels that emit high levels of harmful emissions.
- Countries should also strive for the widespread distribution of autogas at gas stations and other facilities, which must, of course, meet all safety requirements.
You can read the full text of the document here.