USE OF PRODUCER GAS

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1940, Page 4

USE OF PRODUCER GAS

SERVICE CAR EQUIPPED

Producer gas is being used on one of of the service cars of the Railways Department's road motor services between Rotorua and Auckland, and. another car is being converted and will be on the road within a few days. Experiments were first embarked upon 12 months ago, when it was obvious that petrol would be rationed and its price would increa*\ A plant was evolved specially suited to service car work, and was installed on a large vehicle at Napier. As a result of further tests the department Has decided to instal about 40 gas producing plants on vehicles in the North Island. They will be manufactured at Woburn. The plant weighs 6 cwt. when fuily loaded with fuel and water for a journey. On the first run to Auckland the 21passenger service 'car on which the first plant was installed returned a saving of two-thirds of the petrol, the vehicle eonsuming five gallons on the trip instead of 15. On the return trip only four gallons of petrol were used and it is expected the amount will further decrase. On 'this route, where the country traversed is fairly hilly, it is hoped to obtain 75 per cent. operation on the gas, but the cars used on the run south out of Napier obtain in some cases 90 per cent. running on gas.