Producer-gas Scheme To Cover More Operators
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THE conversion of between 5,500 and 6,000 goods vehicles to producer gas has been the aim, so far, of the Government Producer-gas Scheme
• as it affects this sphere of transport. As we have already mentioned, the Ministry has received the co-operation of five of the leading commercialvehicle manufacturers, and these have carried out a considerable amount of work on standardizing the various engine-conversion parts which are required to operate goods vehicles on producer gas.
In order that such standardization shall be carried out, and to keep the. provision Of spare parts within reasonable limits, it has been necessary to restrict the types of vehicle to be converted to those in the 2-3-ton unladen-weight class; and to the five. makes, Austin, Commer, Bedford,
Morris-Commercial and Fordson, also even to certain years of manufacture, i.e., 19Z■8 or later. •
Despite this, it has been found necessary to exclude a certain number of models of these makes which would otherwise come into the categories mentioned. In the first place, it was decided. to ask all Operators owning 10 or more goods. vehicles to convert 10 per cent, of their fleets, provided that they had sufficient vehicles of the prescribed makes and years of manufacture to cover this quota. It is now quite clear, however, that owing to c,hanges in the' volume of road 'traffic and in operating conditions, there are insufficient vehicles of the types required in the hands of such operators. It will, the-efore, be necessary to bring all operators owning five or more ehicles within the Scheme. The next
approach, therefore, will be made to
thosefrom five to nine vehicls, and to ask them to convert one Vehicle to use producer gas.
It seems probable that eve. this extension will' not provide the necessary number of vehicles, and -it may subsequently be essential to Proceed a step farther and to require those owning 10 or more vehicles to convert
• 20 per cent. of their fleets.
It must be emphasized that. this is not due to any change in the number of producers that will eventually be available, but is merely an extension of the scope, in order to absorb the 'number originally decided upon. Those additionel operators who will he affected will soon learn the requirements from 'the Regional Transport Commissioners.