Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Fine. Back in the 1970s, during the oil crisis, I converted my car to LPG, at a time when it was a pioneering move. People used to tell me it was very dangerous because there was a big tank at the back of the car and one could switch from petrol to gas. I used it for many years. There were stations across the country but it fell out of favour. People had an idea it was dangerous, but I proved them wrong in the unfortunate sense because in the early 1980s I was involved in a car crash from which, luckily, I came out alive but the tank and the whole system was not affected at all. I found it very good but the problem was that it had an adverse effect on the car valves because it was a clean fuel. Is the same true of natural gas and will it have an adverse effect on the mechanics of the cars? At that time, this was the biggest single disadvantage, apart from the fact that one would not get enough energy when one would hit the accelerator. Is the same true with natural gas? If this condition is still relevant, it may not be that attractive to fleet operators or to buses.

I am curious about the technical side and the impact the fuel has on the engines. Perhaps technology has moved on considerably to the point where this is no longer an issue but at the time, because fossil fuels put a coating around the valves, that meant the valves lasted longer and were more efficient, whereas with a clean fuel, there was no additional coverage of the valves.

The valves were clean and they ran out much more quickly and affected the engine overall. I am curious about the technical side. Is the witness satisfied that the natural gas that will go into vehicles will not have an adverse effect and that it will be an attractive option?

Second, in the context of costing and pricing, I assume that like LPG in its day, the price per unit or litre of natural gas will be considerably cheaper than petrol and diesel. That should be an added incentive, particularly for fleet operators. I fully support the concept, and I would like to see more happening with it. I would be very tempted, having already had the experience with LPG. I presume cars are increasingly manufactured to take account of natural gas. Perhaps the witness would elaborate on that too, and the availability.