AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Progress Impeded

20th November 1959
Page 32
Page 32, 20th November 1959 — Progress Impeded
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

THE history of road transport is littered with examples of the hindering of technical development. by Government policy. The latest case is that of the multi-fuel engine, the commercial use of which is made almost impossible by fuel tax: Under present conditions it is likely to be employed only in military vehicles and mobile equipment for site work.

The growing popularity of the oil engine has embarrassed the oil companies, because, to keep up with the demand for fuel for it, ever-increasing quantities of fuel oil and middle distillates have to be imported. The process of refining produces petrol, as well as diesel fuel, with the result that there is a surplus of petrol. The situation is aggravated by the far greater economy of the oil engine, as compared with the petrol unit.

Under the present system of taxation the multi-fuel engine suffers a great economic handicap when operating on petrol—the fuel for which the oil companies are urgently seeking new markets. To redress the balance would be extremely difficult, but the problem is not one that can be overlooked. Its solution may facilitate an important technical advance and reduce the need for oil imports.

. Meanwhile, the development of the multi-fuel engine bhould benefit oil-engine users generally, because the enforced need to improve combustion characteristics to enable any fuel to be consumed may well cause better compression-ignition engines to be produced. In particular, the ratio between output and weight and size has increased.

Tags


comments powered by Disqus