PRODUCER GAS

Grey River Argus, 27 December 1941, Page 1

PRODUCER GAS

PETROL ALTERNATIVE

MORE INTEREST SHOWN

AUCKLAND, Dec. 26.

Increased interest is gas producers as an alternative motive power to benzine has followed the petrol cuts introduced last week, and one firm has received orders for four dozen units in the last three days. Interest in the gas producer is older than the petrol restrictions, and dates from the time of the first increase in the price of motor spirit some years ago. Up to the last reduction in allowances gas producer units were confin'ed mainly to commercial vehicles, such as heavy lorries and .a few taxis, the private motorist ill the main contenting himself with the ration allowed by coupon and licence, or obtainably by private' treaty. An engineer said yesterday that the lack of interest due partly to motorists’ laziness and the fact that producer gas obtained from carbonised coal was less efficient . that petrol and resulted in lower performance. Those who were reluctant to fit the units had to realise that at present producer gas was the only available alternative, in spite of the disadvantages it possessed compared with petrol. With proper filters fitted and reasonable attention there was no I'eason why engine wear should oe any greater than with the usual fuels. The use of balloon containers filled with ordinary gas from the mains was a measure adopted in Britain which had not been tr.'ed in Auckland, but this system had the disac-vantag’e of requiring frequent halts to refill the container unless this was made disproportionately large and unwieldy. Approximately 250 cubic feet of coal gas would be necessary to give the same power output as on e gallon of benzine The question of fu'el supply was discussed at a meeting of the Auckland Farmers’ Union executive during the week, when it was Decided to ask the Government to investigate the possibilities of using waste forest products for this purpose.