Holden?s multiple fuel plan

Holden chairman and managing director Mark Reuss is pushing the company into alternative fuels, using technology available from the General Motors' divisions.

He says dedicated LPG products — the company has dual-fuel Commodore models — would use the latest fuel-injection technology to offer private and fleet buyers lower running costs.

Ethanol-fuelled models running on E85 — 85per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol — would be offered on some models and diesels on others. Hybrids will follow, including Commodore and a smaller model.

Holden next month will release a diesel version of its Epica small car to coincide with its Colorado light-commercial vehicle range that supersedes the Rodeo brand.

It will be joined later by other Korean-sourced models including an updated Barina and Viva.

Other diesels would be considered but the recent price rise of this fuel has placed doubt on the extent of the coverage. Also presenting problems is finding a suitable diesel engine for the Commodore.

The move to alternative fuels and technology, together with a stream of vehicles from Korea, will put Holden back in market leadership “within a couple of years”, Reuss predicts.

“In the not too distant future, you can expect to see Holden offering vehicles powered by dedicated LPG, ethanol and diesel and more fuel-efficient petrol engines and hybrids.”

Reuss says Holden is looking at a range of options “rather than betting on one technology winner”. He says Holden was drawing on expertise from GM's global divisions.

This move into unconventional technology is seen as boosting Holden's export potential.

Australia's car industry is second only to minerals in export earnings and Holden is the biggest car exporter.