Bromsgrove-based The Hospital Group has replaced its fleet with Proton GEN-2 ecoLogic dual fuel vehicles.

The cosmetic surgery company offers its patients a door-to-door chauffeur service to help reduce the stress of surgery. With 15 clinics in the UK, each of the 12 vehicles in its fleet cover on average 100,000 miles per year.

The new fleet of Proton GEN-2 ecoLogic vehicles supplied by The Car Lot in Halesowen is due to cut the company’s fuel costs by up to £65,000 per year.

The Hospital Group transport manager Sarb Sandu said: “We travel miles and miles each day, transporting our patients to and from our private hospital in the Midlands, now we can help our patients as well as helping the environment.”

The Proton GEN-2 ecoLogic is dual fuel, able to run on petrol or LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas).

Typically, LPG produces less carbon monoxide, particulates and nitrous oxides than other fuel sources, plus a 15-20% reduction in carbon dioxide compared to petrol.

LPG currently retails at around 52p per litre and there are over 1,400 refuelling sites around the UK, including motorway service stations and at major supermarkets.

Humberside Police have been running LPG converted Proton vehicles for over 10 years and, with just over 300 on their current fleet, have saved over £300,000 on fuel costs per year.

Alan Hocking, from Humberside Police, said: "We began trialling LPG vehicles in 1996 and we've never looked back."

Simon Park, general manager sales and marketing for Proton Cars (UK) Ltd said: “Even the average UK driver doing 10,000 miles per year could save over £500 per year on their fuel costs, simply by switching to LPG.”

To convert a car to LPG currently costs £1,500-£2,500, but the Proton GEN-2 ecoLogic is priced exactly the same as its petrol equivalent.

The GEN-2 ecoLogic range starts at £9,995 on the road, with an automatic version available from £10,795. There is a choice of hatchback or saloon and, until June 30, 2009, all GEN-2 ecoLogic GSX models come with free leather worth £1,000.

All Proton vehicles come with 3 years/60,000 mile warranty and 3 years free RAC cover and the whole Proton range, including GEN-2 ecologic models, is available with £2,000 off the list price under the government scrappage scheme.