LPG Datsun 180B here for evaluation

Press, 11 October 1979, Page 17

LPG Datsun 180B here for evaluation

Nissan Motor Distrii tutors of New Zealand j has imported from Japan a , Datsun 1808 with a dif- ! ference. It looks similar to i the models seen on New I Zealand roads, but under i its bonnet is an 1800 cu Icm tour-cylinder motor which has eight spark i plugs and is fuelled only by liquid petroleum gas. which will be a major fuel I here soon. The car will be- used in : New Zealand for evaluation purposes and is thought to be the only car in the country at present running only on LPG — all the others can be switched back to petrol if required. The Datsun’s motor is specially designed to use LPG. On each of its four cylinders there are two spark plugs: one operates on the intake and the other on the exhaust stroke | to provide better combustion and maximum use of 1 the gas, while greatly re- ! ducing exhaust emissions. 1 Nissan in Japan developed

I the LPG-fuelled 1808 as I part of its continuing i quest for alternative power | sources. It has also deI veloped efficient diesel

engines for both cars and commercial vehicles, many of which are now seen on New Zealand roads, and special engines to take methanol blend fuels. The giant Japanese company is also looking at marketing conversion kits for the dual fuelling of cars using petrol and LPG or blended fuels. Other research includes steam-driven engines and electric vehicles. Nissan first built a special LPG motor as early as 1964. In Japan 81 per cent of the LPG-powered cars are taxis, and in 1378 84 per cent, or 246.000, of these '.cere fuelled by LPG. Japan has about 1500 LPG filling stations. The LPG Datsun 1808 brought to New Zealand has a 71-litre fuel tank, which gives it a similar range to the petrolengined 1808. The tank is contained inside a shell which is vented to the outside of the car and the whole fuel system is protected by various safety devices and valves. Datsun describe the car’s fuel system as “very sophisticated” and is confident. that it. will easily

meet the projected safety reouirements being prepared by the New Zealand standards Association. No decision has been made to produce the LPG Datsun in New Zealand. This will come when the New Zealand Government finalises its alternative fuels policy.