'New’ transport fuel proposed

Press, 22 January 1979, Page 6

'New’ transport fuel proposed

PA Auckland The number of suggested alternatives to petroj as the New Zealand staple transport fuel has grown to four.

Electricity is now proposed as a likely replacement for imported oil products which annually become more expensive and which eventually will be exhausted.

It is suggested that electric power — with which New Zealand is well endowed — could provide the substitute fuel for all forms of trans-

port. Electricity is already a well proven propulsion source for trains and trams, and the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advance-

ment of Science, meeting in Auckland this week, will hear that it could also be adapted as an efficient fuel for trucks.

buses and private cars. Liquid fuels from Maui gas already have been proposed for use in transport, and agricultural and forestry products

.are another proposed source of fuel. I The production of synthetic ; gasoline from big coal deposits in Southland in also being investigated. According to Professor J.

L. Woodward, head of electrical engineering at Auckland University, the potential of electricity is being wrongly overlooked.

The energy required to meet all transport needs could be adequately supplied by one large hydro station, he said. “It is a pity electricity has

not received as much attention as other possibilities in studying the feasibilty of alternative fuels,” said Professor Woodward, who believes electric power could eventually outstrip other promising fuel forms. "I would see it as a com-

plement in the early stages to things such as methanol, but we could turn to it in time as a complete alternative,” he said.

Electricity had many advantages over other fuels, said Professor Woodward. It was relatively cheap, abundant and was produced from clean, renewable resources. In terms of the quantities required, it was an “altogether feasible” alternative. “A detailed study has not yet been made but I believe electricity has the sort of promise that requires a comparison between this and other sources of fuel such as energy farming.” Professor Woodward will be chairman of sessions of the A.N.Z.A.A.S. conference this week, where the subject of electricity in transport will be discussed.