Board aims to convert drivers to alcohol fuels

Press, 2 September 1981, Page 16

Board aims to convert drivers to alcohol fuels

F»A Wellington Research by the Liquid Fuels Trust Board is expected to accelerate this month into plans for converting motorists from petrol to alcohol fuels — methanol and ethanol. Forest biomass and also South Island lignite coals will be checked as possible sources for the alcohol fuels. The board's technical director. Professor A. L. Titchener, said that the study programme aimed for a progress review about the middle of next year. “One of the main questions is what strategies are available for moving from a petrol to an alcohol fuel regime,” he said. Also planned for study were availability of new

i vehicles equipped to handle alcohol fuels, costs of retrofit conversions. impact of ; alcohol fuels on existing fuel and distribution systems. i needed regulatory changes. I and likely emissions from alcohols. ► The board would consider ; both pure alcohol fuels, and • high blends with petrol. “It is not the sort of thing I that will turn up in two or three years,” Professor ' Titchener said. “It will be • spread over five or 10 : years.” The studies were closely > linked with other board research into development of i South Island lignites. I “The more likely source of alcohol fuels seems forestry i biomass in the long run — r assuming that there are no -* other large gas discoveries after the Maui field.” he said. But development of the lignites to produce methanol was also under scrutiny. Two West German buses developed by the same company that invented diesel are being used by the Auckland Regional Authority to check methanol economics. Trials are also under way to check performance of vehicles refitted for methanol, using a kit developed by I the Department of Scientific : and Industrial Research, and on four Brazilian ethanoli engined cars adapted to run on methanol.