In the hindenburg the flames went up, relatively few lost their
lives vs a modern wreck.  There have been prototype automobiles
built, indeed GM holds many patents for fuel systems tanks etc
last I checked a few years ago.

As noted refuel stations are not currently in the picture, I can
conceive several different ways to approach that and I'm sure that
a real engineer could do much better.

Natural Gas and/or Methane are ones I had not considered though
I am aware of the existence of the former (bad cruise range et al)
and the potential of the later..in fact some beans, and a pipe..oops
bad thought bad thought....Too many surges in the system ya know :oP

I suspect you'd have to change your seals at least for that, perhaps
even the gasket on the motor if blow by was much of an issue.

Does anybody know if methane would be a better compression engine model
or simply use a spark since it's so nice and volatile.

JT

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon man [mailto:vgonman@msn.com]
Sent: Saturday, September 14, 2002 3:51 AM
To: Tromper
Subject: Re: Alternate fuels

Are you talking about Natural gas?  I know you said hydrogen, but this is
still not practical....The storage tank is one of the main problems this
has, as well as refueling places.  Remember the Hindenburg?

Adam P
81  Westy "The Brick "
70 Single Cab "Whitey"
74 Beetle "Ol Yeller"
73 Transporter (STILL at paint shop)
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg
75 Campmobile "for sale'
Used Vanagon Parts for sale (mostly aircooled)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tromper" <evilpig@MINDSPRING.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, September 14, 2002 12:05 AM
Subject: Alternate fuels

> Hi Volks,
>
>
> Just a mild thought to pass on the engineers 'round here.
>
> Barring all infrastructure/current availability et al, what would it take
to
> swap an internal combustion/gas motor over to internal
combustion/hydrogen??
>
> The swap to methanol is pretty straight forward, esp for those running the
> inlines
> since I know that Brazil produces them side by side with the gas (I think
> that's
> why the Brazilian produced VW Fox digifant motors come with a lower
> compression
> head)
>
> Then of course we've been the rounds on biodiesel a couple times..does
that
> do
> OK in a TDI or not??
>
>
> JT
>
> "Curiosity Kills more Mice then Cats."
>