Fuel Economy: Driving Around Sweden on Wood Gas

When wood is heated it drives out a gas that is similar to natural gas. In World War II, when oil supplies were cut off to countries like Sweden, people put big stoves in their car trunks, fired them up and connected a hose to the carburator. The car ran on wood gas. Not very well but it ran...

This summer a team of researchers will drive around Sweden with an updated version of a wood gas car that is pictured here. This picture shows Mel Strand, of Boulder, Colorado, standing next to a 1948 Chevy pickup he modified to run on a wood-powered gasifier. During WWII in Nazi-occupied Norway, he drove a similar gasifier truck, delivering groceries during the day and weapons to resistance fighters at night.

I suggest you check out the Around Sweden website. You'll enjoy the example they are setting for innovation and conservation. And you'll enjoy their sense of humor too. For example, the car's 0-100 kilometers per hour time is listed as "sometimes."

Posted by

Philip Reed May 26, 2007, 8:59 PM

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