38 - Friday, October 26, 1990 - North Shore News FALL CAR CARE New pump eliminates evaporative losses Fram page 37 forces to start commercial produc- uon. Production is already under way and first deliveries to gas distribu- tion companies throughout North America and Australia began this summer, Designed by a team of engincers from Sulzer Brothers, FuelMaker PARTS STORE ft Motoreratt Wiper Blades incorporates advanced plastic, ee- ramic and microprocessor techno- logy. Weighing in at 46 ke (106 pounds), this appliance with its quiet compressor package can be installed and operated wherever natural gas service is available. FuelMaker measures 70 em (30 inches) lonz by 47 cm (19 inches) wide and 72 em (28 inches) high. RETAIL SALES ONLY CASH & CARRY SALE ENDS NOV. 3/90 FROM Special 4L Windshie!d Washer Antifreeze with every pair of Motorcraft Wiper Blades purchased. GAS LINE ANTIFREEZE 500 ml Gas LINE ! antieneert |e anniget POF Dvir , DESSENCE \ 6) 5w30 10W30 1ow4d 4L jug W ~ recA only 15 CXC 29A 1 iL CHANGE SPECIAL ONLY 6 OIL FILTERS TO FIT MOST IMPORT AND DOMESTIC CARS IN STOCK $368. From CALL US FIRST FOR THE ANSWER TO YOUR SKI RACK PROBLEMS 879 MARINE DRIVE NORTH VANCOUVER CALL COLLECT 980-2411 Precision is the key word in any Swiss product) and FuelMaker's compressor features a non- lubricated design which climinates the potential for oil carry-over in the gas stream. It is air-cooled and both the piping and interstage filtration systems are built in. While the product is highly ad- vanced in design and technology. it is user-friendly. FuelMaker’s well-displayed start /stop/status contrel panel is easy ¢o operate and understand. A sophisticated microprocesser built into the control system pro- vides for simple, safe and reliable operation. After connecting the refucling hose to the vehicle, the operator pushes the START but- ton and the rest is automatic. FueiMaker verifies sufficient supply pressure, proper hose con- nection and vehicle tank pressure and will refuse to start or shut down if anything is improper. ft also automatically stops when the vehicle tank is full. The natural gas is contained in a ‘‘closed system’”’ meaning there are no evaporative losses to the at- mosphere as there are with gaso- line or alcohol fuels. In the event of supply or line breakage, the unit shuts down immediately. It is equipped with a special break-away hose connec- tion in the event a driver in- advertently drives away without first disconnecting the refucling hose. The idea of converting gaso- line-powered vehicles to natural gas is not new. For more than two decades vehicle owners have been operating dual-fueled natural gas/gasoline systems in many parts of the world. Redeemable at Lonsdale Chevron North Vancouver only Offer expires Nov. 30/90 Not valid with other specials. * Includes Flush tee and two clamps, up to 4 litres of antifreeze and labor. More protection and additives extra. By appointment only. nr Redeemable at Lonsdale Chevron North Vancouver only. By appointment Offer expires Nov. 30/90 Not valid with other specials. [rm rrr nn However, natural gas as) an alternative motor fuel is still not that commonplace. People are reluctant to convert theice vehicles until there are large numbers of filling stations. Service station owners, meanwhile, cannot justify the expense of installing facilities to service natural gas vehicles until larger numbers are ready to buy the fuel. Similarly, automakers are reluctant to build) vehicles with natural gas capability until they foresee a convenient way of tefueling, FuelMaker has the potential for solving the dilemma. Drivers seek- ing a convenient way to refuel may now convert their vehicles to natural gas with the confidence that a FuelMaker refuelling sta- tion can be as close as their home or business. Aside from the ease and convenience, which is a real plus, consumers filling up with natural gas realize a substantial savings in their fuel costs and contribute to a cleaner environ- ment. In Caitada, BC Gas pioneered the development of natural gas as a vehicle fuel. The first refueling Stations opened in 1983 and now there are more than 5C operating around the province. Operators of fleet vehicles were eager to con- vert, but despite government in- centives and potential savings on fuel costs private vehicle owners and small fleet operators resisted. Bruce Vernon, now marketing manager for FuelMaker, has been involved in marketing natural gas as an alternative fuel since 1981. “We were successful in com- merical use right from the start, but refueling stations were too few and too far between to attract a large number of private vehicle owners," he says. “*Here we had an extensive nat- ural gas piping system in the ground and no easy way to get gas to the vehicle owner. That’s when we approached Sulzer Brothers with the idea of developing a compact and convenient refueling system that could be easily install- ed and operated by residential or commercial customers."* Sulzer Brothers has been design- ing and manufacturing refueling systems since the 1920s. They have a worldwide reputation for in- novation and quality. Within a few years a prototype of FuelMaker was developed and over the past 18 months 250 units have been field tested in Canada, Holland, Australia and New Zealand. Initial feedback was very posi- tive. Some of the comments from those involved: ‘*...very conve- nient...no waiting in line at the gas station...costs are half the price of gasoline...1'll be first in line to have my car switched.” Of 1,000 residential and com- mercial prospects surveyed in Brit- ish Columbia, Alberta and On- tario, 15 to 25 per cent are either definitely or probably interested in FuelMaker. Fifty-four per cent cited convenience as the best ad- vantage, while 26 per cent like the cleaner fuel and eight per cent gave better mileage as reasons. These findings, says Vernon, equate to a potential market of 50,000 :o 100,000 households or commercial outlets in Canada alone. Worldwide, the future looks even brighter. FuelMaker general manager See Start page 39 ONE COUPON LIMIT FOR THIS CHEVRON SERVICE LONSDALE CHEVRON 23rd and Lonsdale, North Vancouver SUNT & & BALANCE TIRES Q 2 TIRES ONE COUPON LIMIT FOR THIS CHEVRON /ICE 988- 7125