One of two Nort!

1 ouiere outlets

could close; profit is elusive

By lan Nable News Reporter

OWNERS of cleaner- burning cars on the North Shore may have to take a back seat to economics when it comes to fueling up.

An Esso station just north of Marine Drive on Capilano may close its natural gas ser- vice within three to four months if alternative ways of operating that profitless por- iion of the business aren't dis- covered, said Esso division manager Brian Macgregor.

The natural gas service — one of only evo natural gas outlets on the North Shore — was supposed to close a week ago. But an outcry from B.C. Gas and natural gas vehicle owners such as Derrick Andrews has put the closure threat on pause.

Said Macgregor: “The ini- tial decision to shut it down really had to do with the fact that it was struggling.”

The equivalent of about 300,000 litres of natural gas fuel a year were sold at the business, he said.

“In the petroleum prod- ucts business that’s fairly piti- ful,” he said. “Once we pay our bills... th zre’s precious lit- tle left at the end of the day.”

Still, Macgregor said Esso will look work with B.C. Gas andthe gas station operator and look at different operat- ing methods to keep the nat-

: S Ne aa : , con

ural gas station viable and on site. “At the end of the day ... you need to make something atthe end of it te: make at worth your while,” Macgrewor said.

Andrews said his natural gas-equipped car gets 150 kilome ora fill-up, which he periorms two to three times a week. A drive to the other Nurth Shore natural gas station near Main and Mouatan Highway would mean running the car on reg- ular gasoline more often,

ing to pollution, he said.

aid other natural gas is and

ble gecting, back to Vancouver for refueling if the Esso sta- tion closes.

Many vehicles have back- ups of reguiar gas bur the tansition between the two fuels car be rough, leading to stalls, Andrews said.

He is sold on natural gas. His cight-cvlinder 1982 Buick Regal is his third natural gas car.

He enjoys the environ- mental benefits, lower mainte- nance bills and the fuel sav- ings. A tad iess power doesa’t concern him.

“It’s a smooth-running, better performing vehicle,” he said. “Air care is not a prob- lem.”

He said fuel costs the equivalent of about 31 cents a litre when calculated in regu- lar gas terms.

Andrews said the extra

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NEWS photo Brad Ledwiage

DERRICK Andrews and son Aaron will miss natural gas pumps at an Esso station if they are removed.

fuelirngs needed by natural gas cars are not an inconvenience for him, but may be if the Esso station goes. Macgregor estimates Esso has fewer than 200 natural gas the North ‘hat number is stable.

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