THE complaint that a natural gas cylinder takes up too much space in a car boot does not really hold water.

NGV cylinders come in different sizes to fit all kinds of cars.

NGV installer Hishamuddin Zulkifly, who runs a shop in Shah Alam, said the cylinder sizes ranged from 20 litres to 100 litres.

"A 20-litre cylinder is suitable for smaller cars like a Perodua Kelisa and will probably take up about one fourth of the boot space," he said.

"We install the cylinder in a reclining position close to the back seat in the boot." The 100-litre cylinder is normally used for bigger vehicles like vans.

Besides size, cylinders also vary according to type.

According to Dr Xander Thong, an NGV installer who started the online website www.ngvcommunity.com, they are either made of metal or steel, semi-composite, composite or plastic composite.

The plastic composite model is currently not available in Malaysia.

The metal cylinders are the cheapest and the heaviest while the fully-composite cylinders are expensive and the lightest.

A 55-litre metal cylinder will cost RM1,500 and would tip the scales at 65kg.

A composite cylinder of the same weight would cost RM4,500 and weigh about 38kg.

A 55-litre semi-composite cylinder would be the mid- range of the two, costing RM2,500 and weighing 46kg.

Hence, it was possible to choose a smaller cylinder in favour of slightly more boot space, said Dr Thong.

The surface of a genuine NGV tank is seamless and not welded in any way.

"It is like a bottle with cap on top.

"This is another way for consumers to ascertain it is a genuine NGV cylinder and not a fake," said Thong. -NST