The increase in demand for gas equipment for cars in Kuban has resulted in higher gas prices.

Against the backdrop of the gasoline crisis in Kuban, there have been problems with components for installing gas equipment on cars, leading to long waits for fuel system changes, and the prices for installing gas equipment and gas have significantly increased. Switching to gas is not a universal solution and is not suitable for everyone, drivers pointed out.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the gasoline crisis in Krasnodar Krai provoked a sharp increase in demand for the installation of gas equipment (GBO). Auto services are booking clients several months in advance, the cost of equipment has nearly doubled, and along with the excitement, prices for propane have also risen. Despite this, some residents of the region believe that switching to gas is the only way to reduce expenses, while others are convinced that the current crisis is temporary and will not lead to mass retrofitting of cars. Interruptions in gasoline supplies during the summer led to long lines at gas stations, and many residents began to consider gas motor fuel as an alternative to traditional gasoline.

The cost of gas and equipment has risen against the backdrop of the gasoline crisis

An entrepreneur from the village of Poltavskaya Natalia Garyaeva, who has been engaged in passenger transportation for almost two decades, told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot" that her entire taxi fleet has long been converted to gas.

"We switched to gas 19 years ago. For taxis, it is more economically viable. Now almost all of "Yandex Taxi" operates on gas equipment. Many private owners have also retrofitted their cars," she said.

Before the gasoline crisis, propane cost about 30 rubles per liter. As soon as problems with gasoline began, the price rose to about 45 rubles.

According to Garyaeva, the current excitement has led not only to an increase in the cost of installing equipment but also to a rise in the price of gas itself.

"Before the gasoline crisis, propane cost about 30 rubles per liter. As soon as problems with gasoline began, the price rose to about 45 rubles. There were no grounds for such a price increase for gas, except for the excitement and the desire of gas station owners to profit from the sharply increased demand," the entrepreneur believes.

She notes that not long ago, a complete conversion of a car to gas, including paperwork, cost about 60 thousand rubles. "Now, I think it will be at least twice as expensive, and drivers are already reporting individual cases in the region," the interlocutor said.

According to her, the paperwork process remains complicated. "First, you need to go through a specialized laboratory, then get permission from the technical supervision of the traffic police, and only after that make changes to the vehicle registration certificate," explained Natalia Garyaeva.

A gas equipment installation master from Krasnodar Evgeny Kuzovkov says that one of the main problems has become the shortage of equipment.

"We have been looking for equipment for a passenger car for a week. Our regular suppliers have stopped responding. Now we managed to gather a set for about one hundred thousand rubles just for the equipment. This is almost twice as expensive as before," he told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".

According to him, along with the paperwork, retrofitting a car can now cost the owner about 150 thousand rubles.

Drivers do not consider switching to gas a panacea

A deputy of the city assembly of Anapa Oleg Yantzen believes that the mass transition of motorists to gas is hindered not only by the cost of equipment but also by the technical complexity of installation.

The newer the car, the more complicated and expensive it is to convert it to gas. Older models are easier to retrofit.

"It all depends on the car. The newer the car, the more complicated and expensive it is to convert it to gas. Older models are easier to retrofit. In addition, only licensed organizations have the right to install equipment, which then issue documents for registration with the traffic police," he noted. According to the deputy, even with high demand, it is impossible to quickly convert a significant number of cars to gas, and it is unlikely to happen.

Civil activist and motorist, owner of an electric car Ilya Gogolinsky shares the deputy's opinion and believes that a mass transition to alternative energy for Russian cars is not possible due to many factors. He noted that for the sake of an eco-friendly attitude towards the environment, he himself bought an electric car even before the gasoline crisis.

At the same time, he reminded that almost half a century ago, gas was also a transitional alternative fuel for Europe, and some countries still use gas, but mainly all of Europe is switching to eco-friendly electric cars, independent of gasoline or gas.

"Russia is currently going through an early European "gasoline-gas" stage, as the infrastructure for electric cars in the Russian Federation does not yet allow for a quick repeat of the European path. But I do not think that people will switch to gas on a mass scale. Perhaps they will use public transport, perhaps they will drive less in private cars, switch to bicycles. Some entrepreneurs involved in transportation may switch to gas refueling," he believes.

I decided to sell my car because without gasoline, where can you go? But no one is responding to the ad.

A motorist from Krasnodar Pavel, who asked not to disclose his full name , considers the isolation from progressive countries a "catastrophe, pushing the Russian Federation back a century."

"I see no progress. Wherever you look, there are problems. Either there is no gasoline, or water, or food, or electricity, or gas... Speculators immediately start profiting from shortages. The government does not care how ordinary people live. I decided to sell my car because without gasoline, where can you go? But no one is responding to the ad. People themselves do not know what to do with their "iron horses" now. It remains to switch to donkeys. And we will accumulate heaps of scrap metal. What can we say about electric cars in the Russian Federation? We have no ecological culture. Many have not even heard of them. We have no ecological programs for transitioning to alternative energy sources," he told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".

An activist from Novorossiysk Zhanna Mingalevich does not consider switching to gas a universal alternative solution to the situation.

According to her, the gasoline shortage does indeed persist, but residents have gradually adapted.

"In Novorossiysk, some people stand in lines, some buy more expensive gasoline, many have switched to public transport. If you stand for three or four hours, you can refuel, and this amount lasts almost a week with reasonable use," she said.

Mingalevich believes that building new gas stations alone will not solve the problem. "Today everyone will switch to gas, and tomorrow another problem will arise. This does not address the root cause of the crisis," the activist is convinced.

A civil activist from Tikhoretsk Denis Jalaganiya told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot" that he has not noticed a mass interest in gas equipment. "I personally have not even thought about it, and none of my acquaintances have converted their cars to gas. I do not observe such a mass process in Tikhoretsk yet," he said.

Gas remains cheaper than gasoline

A pensioner from Lazarevskoye Mikhail Baranov said that he has been using a gas car for a long time.

"I bought an old "Volga" about 10 years ago, which was already equipped with a gas system. I use the car for building a house and transporting goods in the mountains. It works smoothly, no problems at all," he said to a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".

According to him, his decision to switch to gas was made long before the current gasoline crisis and was primarily related to savings. His acquaintances and neighbors have also been "on gas" for a long time.

"I refuel in Sochi at Matsesta when I visit relatives. There is a good gas station, LLC "NeftoGaz". In general, there are many gas stations. Of course, there are many fewer than gasoline stations, but for those who use gas, they are sufficient," explained the pensioner.

The increase in demand has also been recognized by market participants

According to "Kommersant", some service centers in Krasnodar Krai are already booking clients for September-October, and some have stopped accepting new customers altogether. Representatives of the company "Gazprom Gas Motor Fuel" reported to the publication that the number of inquiries regarding the conversion of cars to gas has increased by 35-40 percent, although it is premature to talk about a mass transition of drivers yet.

Similar data is provided by "Business Newspaper. South", RBC Krasnodar, and Expert South.

Motorists are paying attention to another circumstance: along with demand, the cost of equipment, waiting times for installation, and the price of propane have risen, which significantly reduces the expected economic effect.

"The current excitement may also lead to an increase in the number of illegal workshops offering to install equipment without the necessary permits and documents, which creates additional safety risks," believes a taxi driver from Sochi Vladislav.

According to him, he has already received such offers from owners of illegal garages in the cemetery area in Sochi, where there are many makeshift illegal auto repair shops providing various services bypassing official registration.

"Gas equipment is not considered more dangerous than a gasoline system if it is installed by a certified organization and undergoes regular technical maintenance. But if some "folk craftsman" takes it upon himself to install gas equipment on a car, then not only the drivers and passengers themselves may be blown up, but also those who find themselves nearby in traffic jams," warns Vladislav.

"The main risks are not associated with the type of fuel itself, but with violations during installation," confirmed the version of the driver from Sochi, a seasoned master from Krasnodar Evgeny Kuzovkov.