PRIME Minister John Major has taken delivery of a natural gas powered Rover 827 which will be added to the 200-strong fleet of vehicles operated by the Government Car Service. In taking delivery of the vehicles outside 10 Downing Street, he predicted a big future for gas-powered cars.

The car has been converted by engineers of British Gas Natural Gas Vehicles to bi-fuel operations, whereby it can run on compressed natural gas and then revert to petrol power at the flick of a switch. Conversion costs around £2,600.

Natural gas powered vehicles eliminate black smoke and reduce other major pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide down by 43% and the potential for ozone formation is cut by 81%. In addition benzene emissions are almost eliminated, lead emissions are cut by 100% when compared to petrol, sulphur emissions are eliminated and carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide emissions are also cut.

British Gas is pioneering the use of natural gas vehicles in the UK and fleets currently trialling gas powered vehicles include the AA, Bristol City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, National Westminster Bank, Body Shop, Avon County Council, White Arrow, United Parcels Service and Taunton Deane Borough Council. In addition BMW and Volvo have both developed natural gas powered cars and Vauxhall has developed a natural gas powered Combo van.