Sweden Turns to Substitute Fuels
Page 43
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
AS Swedish imports of liquid fuel and oils by the usual routes have become practically impossible, through war developments, Sweden has concentrated its efforts, in other ways, in safeguarding the country's supply of fuel. Sweden's possibilities of contributing to this supply out of its own natural resources are far from smaH.
The country's vast forests are able to provide motor fuel in several forms. Charcoal gas has, for many years, been used with success for road transport, and Swedish engineers must be counted among the pioneers in the development of suitable methods for the practical employment of this fuel.
Thanks to these circumstances, Sweden was able to meet quickly the increasing demand for charcoal-gas generators at the outbreak of war, and since then several thousands have been installed. Most of the vehicles using this fuel are lorries, but suitable sets have been developed for cars and buses. At present, there are, for instance, in Stockholm alone, 50 buses driven by charcoal gas, and the State Railways are employing the system for a number of their rail buses.
Lately, Swedish concerns have put on the market new types of generator aggregate, which produce gas direct from wood, eliminating the charring process. Several types have been approved by the Swedish authorities, and it is expected that this form of producer gas will become widely used. As waste wood can be used, and no preparation of the fuel is necessary, the wood gas competes favourably in economy with charcoal gas, although, naturally, larger quantities of fuel are required.
Another source which Sweden has not left unexploited is the large quantities of shale, These are not of the same high oil content as, for instance, the. Estonian shale °deposits, but constitute a stand-by source of great value_ Existing plants in this field are being extended and new ones planned.
Whilst Sweden is making energetic efforts, to safeguard the country's supply of motor fuel by employing substitutes to an increasing extent, possibilities for a resumption of imports are being investigated. The substitutes, it is considered, must be regarded as of crisis character.