PETROLEUM industry analyst Peter Strachan says truck fleets could cut costs by switching to natural gas.
Diesel and petrol prices continue to rise, with no abatement in sight. According to Strachan, methane is retailing at less than a quarter of the price of diesel, is more environmentally friendly, and is abundant in Australia.
Fleets would have to establish their own refuelling stations as an initial investment, because methane, also called natural gas, is not provided at normal petrol kiosks. Some motorists are currently using LPG, which is a mixture of propane and butane.
Natural gas is said to be cheaper, and burns more cleanly than LPG, petrol and diesel, resulting in less emissions.
Buses have already started using liquid natural gas (LNG) in Western Australia, with Wesfarmers recently commissioning a LNG plant in Perth as a source of fuel.
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