As petrol and diesel prices skyrocket across Australia, a niche group of motorists is enjoying a throwback to cheaper times. Owners of vehicles fuelled by liquid petroleum gas (LPG) are filling their tanks for as little as $60, sparking a wave of nostalgia for an era of Australian car manufacturing.
Carl Camilleri and His LPG Ford Falcon
Carl Camilleri, a proud owner of a Ford Falcon XR6 Mark II, pays just over 70 cents per litre for LPG. His 85-litre tank costs about $60 to fill and lasts two to three weeks of daily city driving. 'You can see why I love this car,' he says. Camilleri is part of a dwindling community of LPG vehicle enthusiasts. LPG, a fossil fuel composed of propane and butane compressed into a liquid, emits less CO2 than petrol or diesel, though it still contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
Camilleri purchased his car in 2013 for $28,000, when there were 500,000 LPG vehicles on Australian roads. That number has since plummeted, but the current fuel crisis, exacerbated by Middle East conflicts, has made his car a hot commodity. Another motorist recently offered him over $20,000 for it, an offer he politely declined. 'It's become quite the blast in the Australian car industry recently, being one of the last of the perfect, Australian-made vehicles left around,' he remarks.
The Rise and Fall of LPG Vehicles
Sales of LPG cars peaked in the early 2000s, buoyed by generous government subsidies for factory installations and conversions. However, from 2014 onward, the rollback of these subsidies and the demise of local car manufacturing—where LPG tanks were factory-fitted—led to a sharp decline. By 2025, only 200,000 LPG vehicles remained on Australian roads, according to Elgas.
For enthusiasts like Camilleri, the benefits are clear. After driving over 178,000 kilometres, his daughter calculates he has saved nearly $20,000 in fuel costs. 'The car almost paid for itself,' he says. On one memorable trip, he drove from Point Cook to Deniliquin and back on a single tank, covering 660 kilometres with a boot full of luggage and three passengers. 'I remember watching the gauge all the time; it was pretty cool,' he recalls.
Challenges: Limited Refueling Stations
Despite the savings, LPG ownership comes with significant drawbacks. The hardest part, Camilleri says, is finding a place to refuel. LPG sales have dropped 87% from 2011 to 2025, and the number of service stations offering the fuel has fallen to about 406 in metropolitan Melbourne, 79 in Sydney, and 37 in Perth.
Stuart Brown, who created a Facebook community group for LPG users after his wife struggled to find fuel in Tasmania, confirms the issue. 'As the problem persisted, I was thinking, 'this is ridiculous'. I thought, 'well, maybe we'd make and grow our own group',' he says. The group now has over 6,000 members, many joining due to the fuel crisis. 'In the last month the group's exploded because people are remembering that LPG is cheaper and not going up in price,' Brown adds.
Brown and his wife own two LPG mid-90s Falcon utes and an LPI 1998 Range Rover, which has clocked over 400,000 kilometres and still runs like a 'freight train'. He laments the lack of government and motoring organisation support. 'Despite the fact we are basically using an Australian fuel manufactured in Australia that's cheap and plentiful,' he says.
Conversion Kits and Practical Advice
For those interested in acquiring an LPG car, conversion kits are available, costing between $1,500 and $4,500 according to Repco. These involve installing an LPG storage tank, usually in the boot or under the floor, and a converter to turn liquid gas into vapour. Professional installation by a mechanic is recommended. The NRMA advises planning ahead to ensure adequate refueling points along any journey.
Brown's advice for prospective LPG owners: 'Make sure there's gas near you and be prepared to educate people on the fact that it's Australian and cheap and clean compared to petrol and diesel.' However, while LPG burns cleaner than petrol or diesel, it still produces greenhouse gas emissions, as clarified in an update on 28 April 2026.
