ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24227, 20 February 1940, Page 7

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

CHANGE TO PRODUCER GAS AUCKLAND FIRMS’ INTEREST (Special to Daily Times) AUCKLAND. Feb. 19. Petrol rationing, particularly In respect of heavy road transport ■vehicles, has resulted in a sudden concentration of inteiest in alternative fuels, notably producer-gas. Engineers in Auckland who specialise in converting, vehicles to run on nroducer-gas report a sharp increase ,of business and, while the number of vehicles yet converted is small, it is likely to grow as long as petrol restrictions continue in force. Already several heavy motor trucks, as well as a few motor cars, burning gas made from coal or coke, are in use about AucklandThe possibility of changing over at least part of their fleets of motor trucks to use producer-gas is ene-’ging the attention of many Auckland firms. One large firm, wmch nas ueeii using a producer-gas truck between Auckland and Hamilton for some days, is contemplating the purchase of pro-ducer-gas plants for two or three other vehicles in its fleet. It was stated that special coal had to be bought and screened for use in the plant, which operated at its maximum efficiency only if there were not too many stops. There seemed to be a certain'loss of power, compared with the performance of the same truck when burning petrol, but running Costs were low. Comparatively few motor car oWners appear to have contemplated the purchase of the equipment necessary .to enable them to run their cars on pro-ducer-gas. . The reason is probably the comparatively high cost both of the equipment and Installation, which, it is reported, is rarely below £SO. and often nearer £IOO. The cost yatleS considerably according to the type' of vehicle and the amount of work inr volved in fitting.

Engineering firms reported that the devices they were at present fitting to convert cars and trucks were the inventions of New Zealanders, completely made and fitted in Auckland.