Great article on woodgas cars

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 20 Jan 2010, 12:27

http://www.energybulletin.net/node/51237

They may not be the solution to BAU, but they will still work when every other vehicle on the road is out of fuel/electricity.

In a mad max world, these will be the workhorses.

As the author says, if this is your means of personal transport, you will only travel when it really is essential

stumuzz · Post by **stumuzz** » 20 Jan 2010, 14:50

Very good article, I have always fancied making one, there is a woodgas motorbike in existence with the chamber made out of an old fire extinguisher.

The car used by Kirk Douglas in the film heroes of telemark was a woodgas car!

goslow · Post by **goslow** » 20 Jan 2010, 15:16

fantastic, remember the wacky races????????

eatyourveg · Post by **eatyourveg** » 20 Jan 2010, 21:35

That's it then. Scouring ebay for some old pickup in around 10secs......

Adam1 · Post by **Adam1** » 21 Jan 2010, 11:53

Yet another use for wood. We'd better get on with planting and managing our woodlands. Will it be a question or heat or drive (or cook)?

I wonder how they'd fare in a crash. Exactly how heavy are those contraptions anyway?

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 21 Jan 2010, 13:02

They are heavy, 150 kg min before adding the fuel. They also produce
significantly less power from a given engine. Hence the preference for Volvos and flatbed SUVs. Big engines and strong chassis. This is low energy density medium technology stuff, not electronic microcar or ideal one person transport.

Think USA in the early days of steam. They had small steam engines with huge tenders to cart the wood. Once all the forests within carting distance of the tracks were cut down, they were forced to mine coal.