FLEETS buying factory-converted gas cars will get a better return on their investment than those opting for aftermarket conversions, according to market analysts.

Cars from manufacturers such as Volvo and Vauxhall, that build liquefied petroleum gas cars and compressed natural gas cars to order, should retain their value in line with petrol equivalents, says CAP national research manager Martin Ward.

He told delegates at the Fleet News Hit For Six conference that factory-converted gas vehicles should be more popular on the used market in a few years. But he said those that had been converted by independent gas specialists will not retain their value.

He said: 'The factory-converted vehicles should make a slight premium over petrol equivalents, but retro-fitted vehicles will sell for less than the equivalent petrol car. The trade is marking down the retro-fitted vehicles to take account of the cost of returning them to petrol-only vehicles after resale.

'Buying LPG fuel is much easier now than it was a couple of years ago but it is a stop-gap that will only serve until other technology becomes more widely available. We believe hybrid vehicles will become more the norm than gas over the longer term.'