The previous federal government introduced a $2,000 rebate for motorists to convert their cars to LPG, since then more than 125,000 cars have been converted and the demand is only getting stronger.

The $2,000 rebate was introduced in October 2006 for privately registered cars, halfing the cost of an LPG conversion. Since then, more than $250 million has been paid in rebates. And with petrol prices spiking again, mechanics are run off their feet with the increasing demand for the conversion to LPG.

Mechanics have been converting around 1,500 to 2,000 cars each week on the scheme, but the industry development manager for LPG Australia, Phil Westlake, says the the demand has not been steady.

“It has been up and down. Initially there was a huge peak in demand and there was a waiting list out for 12 months, but essentially within about six months of the beginning of that.

“So early in 2007 most of the installers had caught up to the point where waiting lists were one to two months.

“Now that has gone flat towards the end of 2007, and then really it has started to just peak up again this year, obviously on the back of high fuel prices.”

“Just as fuel prices go up again, we see a trend in the number of enquires.

“Talk to installers and they’re saying that back in the early part of the year when the fuel prices weren’t as high, they were getting five to 10 inquires a day.

“Now they are getting 15, anything up to 25 enquires a day for whether LPG can be fitted to their vehicle and that is on the back of high fuel prices,” he added.

Even the weekly price rises lead to more questions from consumers, according to Mr Klaster.

“So Wednesday the petrol goes up. Towards the end of the week we get all the phone calls about the inquires about the LPG,” he said.