SHELL Gas is converting its 185-strong fleet, including 85 cars, to run on liquefied petroleum gas as part of a new contract hire deal with debis Car Fleet Management. The new arrangement will see Shell Gas operate dual-fuel vehicles from Honda, Ford, Vauxhall, Peugeot, Renault and Volkswagen on three years/90,000 miles full maintenance contracts.

Chris Ridal, Shell Gas's national distribution co-ordinator, said: 'We chose to convert our vehicles to LPG because we know at first hand that it is a clean and environmentally-friendly fuel. debis Car Fleet Management was the only company we talked to that was fully prepared to offer LPG vehicles for our future fleet requirements.' Debis CFM, which next year will also manage Shell Gas's commercial vehicle fleet, will also promote Shell Gas LPG installations to customers considering a dual-fuel strategy.

Tony Elliott, debis CFM's sales director, said: 'With the Government having cut duty on LPG by 30% while increasing it through the fuel escalator on petrol and diesel, the decision to convert makes excellent economic as well as environmental sense.'