Kodak fleet switches to LPG
Page 15
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• Kodak Ltd is now converting a high percentage of its transport fleet to the LPG dualfuel system marketed by the Cafco division of Lipton LP Carburettor Co Ltd, of Wooburn Green, Bucks.
The first vehicles to be converted byKodak are 36 British Leyland FG petrol-engined box vans with bodies built by Cockers of Southport. Based on Kodak's transport department at Hemel Hempstead, these vehicles operate on daily services throughout
the South East and cover on average 150-200 miles a day. The 18gal, pressurized propane tanks provide a range of up to 175 miles, depending on operating conditions, and as the normal petrol supply is retained for emergencies, all vehicles can complete their routes without refuelling. The fuel is supplied by Mobil.
Mr S. A. B I incow,Kodak 's transport operations manager, states that he is satisfied with the performance he is getting from his Cafco conversions. His calculations to date show a reduction of only 5 per cent on overall performance with marked improvement in top-gear flexibility.
"This is better than we expected", he said recently, "in fact, there is very little difference on the road between petrol and propane, providing installation and tuning are correct. Experience so far has proved that fuel consumption figures are also directly comparable. Our principal long-term savings will be in fuel costs; at present propane can be bought at around 3s 3d (16p) a gallon, reduced engine wear and lower maintenance costs."
Kodak has a total fleet of some 250 commercial vehicles in the UK, covering a combined annual mileage of well over 3.5 million. It is Kodak's hope to convert all delivery and collection vehicles to LPG during 1971.
(Three linked articles on LPG appear on pages 32 to 38 of this issue.)