An increasing number of British motorists are opting out of the volatile petrol car market, according to the latest LPG vehicle sales figures from Proton.

The only manufacturer in the UK market to offer an LPG ready car at no extra conversion cost to the motorist, Proton has seen a 375 per cent surge in sales of its GEN-2 ecoLogic in the last month alone – making it one of the few manufacturers to increase their sales (2.3 per cent) in May 2009 compared to the same period last year.

The figures reflect a growing dissatisfaction amongst motorists towards the over-inflated price of petrol, which is once again on the rise. Adding further fuel to the AA’s recent report that over a quarter of motorists are using their cars less as a result of the unreliable market, Proton is championing LPG as a cost and carbon-cutting way to drive.

With petrol prices currently averaging £1 per litre (going as high as 110.9p) at the pumps, LPG costs motorists just under half the price at 52p (going as low as 44.9p) for the same amount. For the average motorist driving 12,000 miles a year, this equates to a saving of around £670.

Plus, eligible for the scrappage scheme, the GEN-2 ecoLogic starts from £7,995 (full price £9,995), making the case for choosing LPG even more appealing.

Proton introduced the GEN-2 ecoLogic to the UK car market in October 2008. The first, and still only of its kind available in the UK, the ecoLogic comes readily converted to dual-fuel LPG. To convert a car to run on LPG currently costs between £1,500-£2,500.