PRODUCER GAS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 16, 19 January 1940, Page 8

PRODUCER GAS

PLANTS FOR MOTORS

TO CONSERVE PETROL

ACTION TAKEN IN AUSTRALIA

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

SYDNEY, January 10

Tenders for the manufacture and supply of 400 producer (charcoal) gas units have been accepted by the Ministry of Supply and Development, at a total cost of about £30,000.

."In accordance with arrangements previously made by the Ministry of Supply," said Sir Frederick Stewart, "these units will be made available to the public at contract prices, which range from £90 to £64, including the cost of fitting. It is anticipated that, as mass production of the units is developed, prices will be reduced." , . ■ Sir Frederick Stewart said that the decision to accept the tenders was an important step in the campaign to encourage the ule of producer units ior road transport. Investigations and tests under varied conditions had shown that the substitution of cKarcoal for petrol resulted in substantial saving sufficient to liquidate the prime cost of the unit within a reasonable running period. "If the educational campaign is successful," he added, "the Government will not need to take up the guarantee, which it is giving the contractors in respect of units for which private purchasers are not available."

According to an executive officer of a company which has pioneered the construction of producer gas plants in Australia, there are at present about 550 units in use by private owners throughout Australia. In addition, a number of plants are being operated by the Defence Department and other Government organisations with the object of testing the possibilities of the new fuel. Of the 550 units in private use, about 450 are fitted to tractors and only about 45 to trucks. The remainder operate small stationary engines on country properties for working pumps, saw benches, electric lighting plants, and so on.

It is claimed that a 561b bag of charcoal gives a milage equivalent to that fronv4£ gallons of petrol. In the country a bag of this weight can be bought for Is 3d or, if the owner burns his own charcoal, lOd would be about the cost of the labour involved. The average price of petrol in country districts is 2s 6d a gallon. In the city, charcoal costs 2s a bag at present.