Astana City proposes LPG-powered third national car

KUALA LUMPUR: Astana City Group Sdn Bhd (ACG) has proposed that the third national car be powered entirely by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), instead of petrol.

Managing director Nik Mohd Fareez Nik Ahmad Azman said this proposal had been submitted to the International Trade and Industry Ministry last year.

“For example in Japan, the government has made it compulsory for all its taxis to use LPG as it is more economical and environmentally-friendly.

“LPG can reduce carbon emission by up to 20% compared with petrol. What we are trying to bring to Malaysia is replicate the LPGpowered car model which has been proven to be successful in Japan and South Korea,” he said after launching the 14kg LPG ACGas composite cylinder here yesterday.

The third national car prototype, of which the investment is mostly funded by the vendors, is expected to be launched by the first quarter of this year.

Nik Mohd Fareez said the idea to use LPG for the third national car was the result of the company's strategic partnership with Hyundai BS and E Co Ltd from South Korea and PAP Econ Co Ltd from Thailand.

Elaborating further, he said with regards to the third car project, ACG planned to establish LPG stations nationwide, which would also generate new economic opportunities for the people.

The company is currently awaiting feedback from the government on its application to build the stations which was submitted in October last year, he added.

“If the government approves our application, we plan to work with Majlis Amanah Rakyat and Petronas in terms of providing the manpower and in opening LPG stations,” he said.

ACG is the seventh operator involved in the marketing of LPG in the Malaysian market and the company is given the LPG handling subsidy from the Ministry of Finance in November 2018. — Bernama