Methanol a choice for cars in Chch?

Press, 12 June 1987, Page 22

Methanol a choice for cars in Chch?

Methanol may be shipped to Christchurch as a car fuel. , Petralgas Chemicals, the Petrocorp subsidiary, is conducting research with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research on conversion kits which would. allow cars to run on' both petrol and methanol. < Mr Vernon Dark, the chief executive, petrochemicals, of Petrocorp, told a news briefing at the methanol plant yesterday that methanol was already being shipped to Christchurch for industrial use, and the company was interested in supplying it for cars. Methanol is clean burning, and is becoming popular overseas, especially in blends, because it is less of a pollutant than petrol. With Christchurch’s smog problem this might make it attractive for the city. If the supply was feasible, the fuel would be sold at a lower price than petrol. The kits would be made available at a low price. A tankful of methanol would give a car about 60 to 65 per cent of the range it would have if using petrol, Mr Dark said.