SKODA has decided to go ahead with plans to develop LCVs powered by liquid petroleum gas. Speaking at the Commercial Vehicle Show, fleet manager north Adrian Millar said: 'The decision has now been taken to go with LPG and we are finalising pricing. This is as a result of customer demand - there has been lots of interest in LPG vehicles from fleets.'

The manufacturer announced at the London Motor Show last year that LPG versions of its pick-up and Cube van were on the cards if fleet interest made it viable. A Skoda Cube Van converted by Tickford Engineering to run on LPG was one of the vehicles on display at Skoda's stand at the show. The converted model offers fuel consumption of 25.5mpg, which equates to about 5.3p per mile.

Tickford's own stand was dedicated to demonstrating its 'one-stop shop' for customising LCVs and converting cars and vans to run on alternative fuels. The company has recently converted Ford's newly-launched demonstrator fleet of 50 gas-fuelled Mondeos, Couriers and Transits.