a technology , which will enable domestic gas supplies to be used for refueling gas-powered cars at home, has been developed by British Gas (bg). The technology has been developed by bg after 10 years of extensive research.

It involves installation of a low cost conversion unit in garages or in parking bays of motorists. The conversion unit transforms domestic gas into compres-sed natural gas (cng), which is favoured by environmentalists over diesel and petrol. Besides easing the air pollution problem, cng is 30 per cent cheaper than diesel or petrol.

Michael Kesztenbaum, bg's vice-president of consumer products, predicts that natural gas could be used for fuel cell cars as well. Senior government officials have shown a positive response to the project, which is being closely monitored by General Motors and Ford, the two largest automobile manufacturers of the world. The first batch of the conversion units are expected to be installed in the country over the next three years. bg is also planning to introduce the technology in overseas markets of Argentina, India and Egypt.