Vietnam to launch LPG motorcycles to protect environment

HANOI (AFP) Sep 16, 2003
Engineers in Central Vietnam said Tuesday they were seeking permission from local authorities to start production of motorcyles running on LPG (liquid petroleum gas) as a new environmentally friendly fuel.

A group of engineers in Danang's Environment Protection Research Centre secured the patent early this month to produce LPG conversion kits for motorcycles from Vietnam's Department of Intellectual Property Rights.

"However, as Vietnam does not have any law about LPG motorcycles, we have to ask for permission and guidelines from the Ministry of Transport before producing the kits," said the centre's director, Bui Van Ga.

"With a conversion kit, the motorcycle can run either on LPG or petrol. The LPG fuel will cost 20 percent less than petrol and better protects the environment as exhaust emissions will be reduced to nearly zero," he added.

Ga said that his centre was working with PetroVietnam, who will be the main provider of LPG in Vietnam, about the building of supply points if the project is approved.

More than 10 million motorcycles are currently in use in Vietnam.

TERRA.WIRE