34 - Friday, December 8, 1989 - North Shore News

AUTOM OT I

Natural gas is fuel of future

From page 33

the Natural Gas Vehicles
(NGV) division of B.C. Gas,
natural gas forms no sludge
in the engine, and does not
rinse important lubricating
oil from cylinder walls.
Spark plugs, oil, oi! filters
and pision rings iast longer,
saving engine wear and
maintenance costs.

NGV estimates that if an
engine is run only on natural
gas, it could last up to
400,000 kilometres (250,000
miles).

Natural gas is also much
safer than most people real-
ize. It takes a temperature of
649 degrees Centrigrade to
ignite it, versus 257 degrees
C. for gasoline and 465
degrees C. for propane.

And because it is lighter-
than-air, natural gas rises in-
to the atmosphere in case of
a leak, rather than forming a
pool of liquid on the
ground.

With air pollution cn
everyone’s minds these days,
natural gas can take credit
for being one of the cleanest
fuels. Natural gas-powered
vehicles produce less
nitrogen oxides and reactive
hydrocarbons, the two main
ingredienis of ozone, or
smog.

Harmful carbon monoxide
emissions are 90 per cent less
than gasoline-powercd
engines, and greenhouse-
producing carbon dioxide
emissions are Z5 per cent
less. Some hydrocarbons in
the form of methane are
higher, but these are essen-
tially benign.

Last, but not least, B.C.
has a plentiful supply of
natural gas, and availability
is not subject to the whims
of OPEC or oil shortages.

The cost of converting a
vehicle to run on natural gzs
is probably the biggest
drawback. A typical mid-size
sedan fitted with two tanks
costs about $3,000 to con-
vert. B.C. Gas and the fed-
eral government are current-
ly offering grants from $500

to $1,000 depending on the
type of vehicle. B.C. Gas is
also offering financing (on
approved credit) at a rate of
12 per cent over one or two
years.

The cost of conversion can
be reduced by leasing storage
tanks instead of buying
them. Tanks cost about $500
each, but can be leased for
just seven to eleven dollars
per month. Assuming you
lease two tanks, the total
conversion cost will be be-
tween $1,000 and $1,500
plus monthly leasing costs.

Conversion costs are off-
set by fuel savings which can
repay these costs in as little
as a year and a half, But the
buyer still has to have the
cash to pay for conversion in
the first place.

Another disadvantage of
running on natural gas is
that the range of the vehicle
is considerably shorier
(assuming you use only nat-
ural gas). Equipped with one
or two tanks, the range of a
natural gas-powered car is
anywhere from 100 to 400
kilometres, depending on
tank sizes and driving condi-
tions. A vehicle with a gaso-
line tank can travel between
250 and 600 kilometres be-
fore refueling.

With the freedom of shift
back and forth between nat-
ural gas and gasoline ‘on the
fly,’ the dsiver can extend
his driving range by two or
three times. B.C. Gas en-
courages diivers to do this,
but in my view this negates
the positive benefits of runn-
ing on natural gas oly.

Natural gas tanks are very
heavy and bulky, weighing
between 120 and 160 Ibs.

=

each. This extra weight af-
fects fuel economy slightly.
In addition, the tanks take
up vaiuable storage space,
especially in small cars.

Finally, natural gas filling
stations are not as numerous
as gas stations. There are
now over 30 natural gas fill-
ing outlets in the Lower
Mainland, and 20 more in
the interior. But that pales in
comparison to the number
of gascline stations.

The biggest boost to natu-
ral ga3 sales will be the in-
troduction of home filling
outlets some time next year.
These Residential Refuelling
Appliances will hook up to
your home’s existing gas
lines and provide a conve-
nient, at-home filling sta-
tion.

The cost of these units is
still a secret, but it is
rumored to be under $2,000,
and there will probably be
leasing arrangements avail-
able. The only drawback is
that the time required to fill
two tanks will be about 7 to
8 hours, something that can
probably be done overnight.

The future of natural
gas-powered cars look
bright. The Natural Gas
Vehicles division of B.C.
Gas forsees manufacturers
building natural gas tanks
into new vehicles on the
assembly line, and engines
designed with higher com-
pression ratios to take ad-
vantage of the superior
combustion qualities of nat-
ural gas.

Whatever the fuiure of
natural gas, it looks like it is
here to stay. But don’t ex-
pect it to replace gasoline or
propane, just yet.

GiCBC AND
YOUR LOCAL POLICE.

einer nparaeste ee mpempuneemnen
326 AUTOMOTIVE

SE
Car buyers are waiting to read
our ad — 986-6222.

JUST REMEMBER...“VW's cost
tess’ at Capilano VW, 1151
Marine Drive, Norih Vancouver.
Phone 985-0694 or colleci 1-800-
663-9349.

3 WHEELS, fits ‘75-78 Honda
Civic. Tires free. $15 ea. 926-8947

327 DOMESTICS
Cash For Cars

We Pay Top $$$ for clean cars
80's & newer Cars & Trucks
MORIN INVESTMENTS, 986-7534
LARGE STATION WAGON
76 Torino, suit contractor, family.
Whistler, etc. 1 owner, clean,
good mecn, snows wirims, p/s,

p’b, halogens. $950. 926-1821.
279 Chev Nova sedans, 6 auto,
pis, pib. $1200/$609. 987-8215
84 T-BIAD - looks & runs like new.
Unbelievable 64,000 orginal
miles. $4500 obo. 987-5957.

71 FORD Capri, 4 spd. $425 obo

430-8366

73 MUSTANG F/B. Too much to
list. Offers. 984-6620, aft 6pm.
74 CAPRI good running cond, no
rust, $1200, 929-2595, eves.
74 FURY, no rust, new radials,
74 NOVA, excellent condition,
very reliable, $700. 987-9746.
75 MAUBU Classic, 1 owner.
Very Reliable. $750 obo. 980-6857
76 CHEVETTE auto, new brakes,
tites. Gd cond. $550, 985-0500
77 MALIBU Classic, new tires,
needs tune-up $860. 928-5083
77 MERCURY Monarch. V8, 2 dr,
auto, aif, cruise, plush interior,
great shape, $1150, 988-2159.
77 OLDS Cutlass, good transport,
new tires/battery/orakes, some
tust. As is, $650 obo. 936-0002
78 FIREBIRD, 350 Chev eng,
sour.d. Bdywrk. $1450. 985-9345.

sound Saw <2
78 FIREBIRD, white, 4 spd, exc
cond. 1 owner. $3,600. 224-5696.
76 HORIZON, new brakes, new
tires, good running cond. $750.
922-0027 leave message.
79 FORD Granada, 56,000 mi, exc
cond. 1 owner. $2000. 929-8711
78 PLYMOUTH 'torizon TC3
coupe, 4 spd, sunroof. Gd cond.
Must sell. $1,350 obo. 987-9985.
7@ PONTIAC Parisienne, exc
cond, loaded. From California.
Must be seen. $3,000. 929-2763.
78 T-BIKD power & luxury, new
450 hp 480 motor rebuilt C6 trans
wishitt kit. 600 walt stereo, exc
cond. $3,500 oho 985-1017
80 BUICK RIVIERA. Maroon, fully
equipped luxury you can afford.
Special, $5,995. D!.7893.

METAO MAZDA, 526-9771
80 DODGE Dipicmat wagon, 318
auno, pis, pib. Good cond. $2,495.

988-8615

89 PONTIAC Acadian, 4 dr hib,
exc cond, $1850. 984-0826.

VE §

337 CARS
Jonette
81 CAMARO, charcoal grey, tow
mis, smail V&, runs gteat, new
brakes, no fust, no tips. For more
info call Ed, $4500 obo. 669-0994.
81 FORD Escort, good cond.
Quick sale $1850. 987-40S8____
81 FORD Escort, new brakes.
exc, $2350 obo 288-7171 986-1093
81 MERCURY Lynx pis, pb. 4
spd, sit, am-tm cass, new paint,
exe cond. $2,500 obo. 980-7337 _
8: MUSTANG 4 sp, hib. $2800
Greai Christmas gift! 987-8659.
81 OLDS Toronado, orig over,
sit, 8 cyl, 31.058 mi, $9500. 988-
2967.
8t PONTIAC Grand LeMans wgn,
loaded, mint. $4850. 987-6536.
81 T-BIRD. 2 tone blue, new tires,
1 owner. Only 94,000 kms. Come
& test drive this beauty. DL7893.
METRO MAZDA, 526-9771
82 CHEV stn wgn. exc, tuneup.
$3,690 obo. 988-7171, 986-1093
62 CHEVETTE drk blue. hib auto.
4 dr, 4 cyl, 20,000 kms. $1180.
988-7189, 988-7268.
82 FORD Escort, 1 owner, papm-
pered cat, 4 spd, 2 dr. am/im
tape. $2,300. 987-0225, 984-0142.
82 PLYMOUTH Reliant, 2 dr, met
blue, exc cond, $2100, 925-3939.
82 2.2L Horizon hf, 4 speed,
87,000mi, good cond, $2000 firm.
984-8446 to 9pm.
83 BUICK Skylark, exc cond, air,
am-im cass $3,900 obo 986-6485
83 OMNI. Auto, gold, 4 dr.
$

Ideal starter. DL 7893.

METRO MAZDA, 526-9771
84 COLT 3000, grey, 2-d', stand-
ard. 988-6913 or 664-6857 aft 6pm.

84 ESCORT sport hid, auto, exc
cond, $3795 obo. 985-0676.

84 PONTIAG PHOENIX. H/B, V6,
auto, exc cond, $5000. 968-2159. _

84 RELIANT stn won, auto, p’s,
pib, rool rack, 45,000 mi, good
cond. $3900 coo. 926-5756

85 FORD Crown Victoria, loaded,
40,000 mi, immac. $9,600 obo.
998-7853, evenings.

&6 JIMMY S15. 4 wh drive, a/c, am
stereo, tilt, cruise, sir, pil & win-
dows, caliular, mint cond,
$15,500. 680-0987, 644-8527,

 /7)

aed
327 CARS

aa a med
86 CHEVETTE 4 dr, 5 spd. hb,
immac, $6,500. obo. 987-8572

86 PONTIAC Sunbird wgn. white,
auto, 32,000 kms. Lady's car, exc
cond. $8,500 925-3244
87 CAMARO ‘oc z, 5.7L, 350 ci
with fli, troof etc. 25,000 km,
87 FORD TEMPO GL Sport, par-
formance engine, iully loaded.
87 ZEEP YS Laredo Black, 5 spd,
6 cyl, hard top. $15,900, 921-6576.
88 CHRYSLER LeBaron convert,
tutho, every conceivable option,
exec driven, black/cherry. Sm
deposit & assume lease pay!nent.
Full war. 929-2164, 929-5190 aft 6.
88 PONTIAC Tempest.
immaculate, 5 speed, tilt, white
walls, console, am/fm stereo
cassette, power trunk, iow mile-
age. $10,800. 986-6203
89 BLAZER 4x4, black on biack,
loaded. Must sell $22500.
736-4729.

328 SPORTS & IMPORTS

59 MERCERES 190D, $2200.
926-2731
64 MERCEDES 2930SL, grey. red
leather, 2 tops, 57,500 mi, stne,
vey good cond. $29,500. 926-9382
68 BAJA motor needs some work.
Looks good, $900. 988-5357. .
71 AUSTIN Mini. Mtr needs some
work, body in great shape, Pirelli
tires, $700 obo. 687-8064 eves.
72 BRITISH Sports Car, fast,
good cond. New tires, wheels &
clutch. $2,500 obo. 421-0133.
72 FIAT Spider, hard/soft top,
California car, engine rebuilt
1988, new starter, 80,000 miles,
runs well, minor dents & surface
tust. $800 obo. 922-5643.
72 PORSCHE 974, 5 sp, 4 cyl,
must sell, $3500. 985-5988.
72 SUPER Beetle, gd eng & trans.
Needs bay wrk. $1,000, 987-3343.
72 SUPER Geetle. Exc cond. Mus!
see. $2,680 obo. 988-5098.
73 MERCEDES 2805S, 4 sp, sir,
amitm cass, body totally rstrd.
Only 95,000 mu. $9,900. 984-6424.

CON’T CH NEXT PAGE

7)

Whiriwind —
of Style
Arrives the
4999 Swift
4 Door Sedan ~—

Go) VUGLS L
WeRED™

Tire specialist serving
the North Shore at
THE BEST PRICES!

UNIROYAL, MICHELIN, SUMITOMO, | ,

AM/FM CD PLAYER

4) WATTS » BASS AND TREBLE
REPEAT AND RANDOM PLAY, 18
FM, 6 AM PRESETS, 3 BEAM CASES

HOLIDAY +6 49

PIRELLI, AURORA, GOODYEAR, TOYO,
BRIDGESTONE, GENERAL
BF. GOODRICH, HANKOOK.

EVERY DAY IN-STORE SPECIALS

CHAINS, STUDS, BATTERIES
SNOW TIRE SPECIALS
VOLUME DISCOUNTS ON COMM.ACC.

OPEN 7-DAYS A WEEK
MON-SAT. 7:30-6:00, SUN. 11:30-4:08

Fun For All...All For Fun.

rom 9, 99H

(includes PD! & Freight)
D8805

SPECIAL

DEH-55

Ld 1484 RUPERT STREET
NORTH VANCOUVER
4845 POWELL. ST.

AT VICTORIA 254-0811