PRODUCER GAS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24418, 2 October 1940, Page 5

PRODUCER GAS

UNLIMITED MILEAGE CARS FITTED IN DUNEDIN To the average motorist In Dunedin to-day the phrase “unlimited miles" savours of wishful thinking. But new developments in the motor trade are now making it a thought swiftly to be realised. A trial recently carried out in a motor car operated by producer gas was a complete surprise both in performance and ease of operation.

Timing the operation of starting a producer gas plant on a standard model car, it was ; found that it took exactly 10 seconds to light the fire. Within two minutes the engine was running on the gas. In another minute or so it was moving easily among the traffic of the city streets. While acceleration was not quite as fast as it would have been on petrol, it was more than ample for the average driver. Five minutes later, when the body of the fire had increased in proportion, acceleration was fully as good as on the average car. Cost? A car that will do 20 miles to the gallon on petrol burns threequarters of a pound of fuel—costing a halfpenny—each mile. A certain amount of petrol is used for starting, and occasionaly, on a very steep hill: making the running cost approximately three farthings a mile, which is half the cost of running on petrol. These again are conservative figures based on present prices, The saving in the case of trucks and tractors is. even more nronounced. A six-wheeler truck in ihe North Island, running over 600 miles weekly with an average gross load of 10 tons, is operating with a fuel cost of a shade under a penny a mile, the saving in one week exceeding £lO.

There is nothing awkward in the appearance of these Gasogene plants attached to any car. They are compact and neat to look at, and enhance, rather than detract from, the appearance, Initial cost is small, varying with the type of work to be done But the greatest boon for the motorist will be the feeling—almost .forgotten in these days of coupons—of having unlimited miles at his disposal. The agency for Otago and Southland for Gasogene plants is held by a new company, City Motor Service. Ltd., which, in addition to selling, installing and servicing plants, will operate one of the most modern garages in the Dominion. when their premises in Cumberland street, next to the Law Courts Hotel, have been completely modernised. P.B.A;