Home fill-ups stil
a long way away

Greg
Wilson

AUTOMOTION

IN 1992 B.C. Gas announced
that anyone whose home was
connected to a natural gas
line could rent a home refucl-
ing device that would enable
them to refill their natural-
gas powered vehicle right in
the'r own driveway.

At the time, the idea of filling up
at home seemed like a terrific one.
The convenience of gassing up in
your driveway would eliminate the
necd to drive to a natural gas refu-
elling station. ‘That is, if you could
find one — there are only 60 in B.C.
and that number hasn't increased in
the past two years.

Motorists could take advantage of
cheaper home natural gas rates and

WEDNESDAY

have their monthly fuel costs added
directly to their B.C. Gas bill.

Perhaps most importantly, the
ability to Hll-up at hame would
encourage More motorists to switch
to cleaner-burning, less-expensive
natural gas fuel.

But after two years, the concept
of hame-tefilling seems to have fiz-
led. There are only about 100 home
refueling devices in operation in
homes and commercial businesses
across B.C., and there's very little
interest from the motoring public.

The reason is cost. B.C. Gas
Utility charges $59 per month and 32
cents a litre, or $100 per month plus
the home rate (currently 15 to 16
cents per litre), to rent. a Fuelmaker
Vehicle Refuelling Appliance.

Those rates are just too expensive
for the average commuter.

“The 32 cents a litre, that's the
same price as the public refuelling
stations,” said Brian Powers, Sales
and Service Manager for Natural
Gas Vehicles of B.C. Gas Utility
Lid. “Whatever you save by convert
ing to natural gas, you take $59 a
month off the top of that just for the
convenience of filling up at home.”

Powers estimates that to take
advantage of home refueling, you
would have to spend about $300 #
month on gasoline.

“The cost of natural gas, at 15
cents a litre, would be about $75 a
month, add $100 for the Fuelmaker
rental, and that's $175,” he added.
“You could save $125 a month.”

But that doesn't include paying

See Costs page 33

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