#VEDay75: With motor fuel in short supply, wartime UK turned to gas as an alternative

#veday75

The shortage of motor fuel during the Second World War made it difficult to operate motor vehicles – but the gas industry, ever innovative and ready to adapt, came up with its own solution.

Gas stored in large canvas bags on top of the vehicle may not have been the most aesthetically pleasing, but it ensured essential journeys to an 18-mile range could be carried out.

Liverpool Gas Company devised a special mixer which was fitted to the intake of the carburettor, consisting of an automatic valve which operated using engine suction. It allowed the correct amount of gas and air to be drawn into the engine. This photo shows an adapted Morris Saloon.



We’ve worked with Professor Russell Thomas, chairman of the history panel of the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers, to produce this special series of stories for #VEDay75.
 

Most of the images that will appear on these pages are reproduced with kind permission of the National Grid Gas Archive, Warrington.

Cadent

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