Yes I recall as child (aged 10 when WWII ended) in the UK 'coal gas'
from the mains in a large bladder in a frame on top of a car; so it
must have been at atmospheric pressure! And apparently worked? But not
sure what modifications had been made.
Also recall some of the buses towing a trailer mounted generator/
boiler that somehow made gas that was fed to the bus engine. Probably
fueled by coal that was mined locally in the UK while otherwise
depending on Lend Lease convoys form the USA and Canada.
BTW thank you USA for the help during those desperate days of the
1940s. Also for the postwar US Marshall Plan tha helped rebuild
shattered nations.
USA, at that time showed great statesmanship. Not so sure about the
last 40 to 50 years!
If someone can design a really efficient battery system hydro power/
recharging, *especially with increased rain due to global warming (our
Canadian climate has definitely changed during the last 50 to 60
years) is obviously the way to go. Here we have been at over 90% and
are approaching 100% hydro power.
The following is quick and rough calcs.
A US gallon of gas has about 90,000 BTUs of energy? Used rather
inefficiently? And costs you about *$2.00?
It cost us the eqivalent of about twice that in terms of US dollars
btw! Mainly higher taxes and a smaller market I think.
While 90,000 BTUs of electrcity costs us (domestically) about $2.70.
So on that basis US fuel is pretty cheap! and it may be a while for it
to change. It may be food and further water shortages that will
trigger change.
Please correct or add to this estimate as anyone sees fit.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The trailers behind cars/buses were producer gas generators. They made
carbon monoxide gas from coke. The coke mass inside had to be heated
to red heat to initiate production. Only the desperate had them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Producer_gas