ALTERNATIVE FUEL

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 10, 11 July 1940, Page 9

ALTERNATIVE FUEL

COAL GAS FOR MOTORS

SWITCH OVER AT WILL

A network of supply points where • gas bags can be refilled has been ! established throughout London for motorists. Thus drivers of the ; vehicles converted to run on this fuel • will have no difficulty in covering their 1 motoring around the Metropolis. It is the intention, too, of the London Gas Development Association to arrange a series of stand pipes on a number of main roads from London ; to the coast and to big Midlands towns so that long journeys can be made I on coal gas. The idea is that, generally speaking, in no place will there be more than about ten miles between gas points. Should the car gas bag deflate, then only a few miles would have to be covered on the petrol reserve before reaching a refilling point. Gas stand pipes have been installed at many garages in London and the number is increasing. The sizes of inlet for the gas bag equipment and the stand pipe supply have been standardised. The cost of gas is about the same as petrol but the price varies from district to district because gas costs vary with different undertakings. The garages are supplied at the same price as for householders, but motorists have to pay more for filling The conversion to run an coal gas is simple. A special carburetter is placed beside the standard instrument and the bag is fitted to the roof of the car. The two fuels are interchange- I able and the driver can switch from j

one to the other as and when he pleases. Bags on private cars hold enough for from 12 to 20 miles without refilling. Replenishment time takes from 7 to 10 minutes according to the size of the bag. From the point of view of running, the engine retains its smoothness, there is no carbon deposit, and starting from cold is easy. Against this, there is some loss of power and an appreciable drop in maximum speed. ' The drawbacks to the use of gas 'are the short distance that can be covered per bagful, the relatively high cost of making the-conversion (about £30, in England for an 8 h.p. car), extra -weight and wind resistance created by the equipment, loss of performance, , and slowness of refilling the bag. .