SAE-A Autogas Forum Opens up Discussion on the Future of Autogas Vehicles in Australia
16 August 2016
The Society of Automotive Engineers – Australasia (SAE-A) welcomed industry colleagues to the Autogas Vehicle Market in Australia Forum on the 27th July 2016.
This Forum followed on from the 2016 ABMARC Autogas Vehicle Demand Study commissioned by Gas Energy Australia (GEA) in collaboration with the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) and the Victorian Government. The Study identified a potential window for significant demand for Autogas vehicles from the fleet sector in the medium term and recommended that a business case be conducted to evaluate the viability of establishing new conversion facilities in Australia.
The SAE-A invited interested parties to the Forum and discussed the Study's results, current industry capabilities and brainstormed approaches to capturing new opportunities.
The Forum was facilitated by SAE-A CEO, Dale Gilson, with presenters including John Griffiths, CEO of Gas Energy Australia, Natalie Roberts, Managing Director of ABMARC, Angela Krepcik, Director - Southern and Eastern Regions Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, and Warring Neilsen, Corporate Affairs Manager of Unigas.
SAE-A President, Mario Turcarelli opened the Forum, addressing the stakeholders and interested parties, promoting the need for discussion surrounding the Autogas Vehicle Demand Study.
"As part of our activities on behalf of our members and the best interests of the broader automotive industry and its stakeholders, [the SAE-A] has educated its members about advances in mobility technologies" said Mr Turcarelli.
"We have consistently promoted and publicised the latest research and policies which we envisage leading to improvements in the industry's products, major benefits for end consumers and the most positive outcomes for the environment with respect to fuel choices and emissions... our interest in the continued sustainability of Autogas fits squarely into these active areas of our focus."
Mr Turcarelli concluded his opening remarks by thanking the VACC, Gas Energy Australia and the Victorian Government Department of Regional Development for commissioning and jointly funding the study, as well as thanking Ms Natalie Roberts of ABMARC, for her hard work on conducting the comprehensive Autogas Study, and Ms Angela Krepcik, of the State Government, for her support of the Forum.
John Griffiths, CEO of Gas Energy Australia, backed the the Autogas Project, stating that it "was an ideal platform for fostering collaboration on new projects to move the Autogas and automobile industries forward."
"The strong support available for new ventures from the Victorian Government is most welcome to minimise the loss of automotive jobs, skills, equipment and infrastructure as Holden, Ford and Toyota shut down their manufacturing operations."
Mr Griffiths continued, "With ABMARC's study showing significant unmet demand for Autogas vehicles and government policies becoming increasingly focused on the carbon and noxious emissions from transport, this is an opportune time to be looking at manufacturing new Autogas vehicles available in Australia now that these vehicles are no longer being built here."
SAE-A CEO, Dale Gilson was pleased with the outcomes of the Autogas Forum, commenting that "the forum was well attended by companies in the fuel, automotive, aftermarket and mobility industries. The SAE-A was pleased to enable productive discussions surrounding the Autogas Vehicle Demand Study's findings."
"The SAE-A will continue to monitor the progress of the Autogas Project, and will be working hard to support the programs that will benefit our members and the wider mobility industry" said Mr Gilson.
"The National Office and Board look forward to working alongside the VACC, Gas Energy Australia and the Victorian Government Department of Regional Development in progressing this project."
The 2016 ABMARC Autogas Vehicle Demand Study executive summary is available for download from Gas Energy Australia's Industry Reports webpage:gasenergyaustralia.asn.au/reports-and-submissions/industry-reports
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