Three Finnish Army Sisu-trucks and soldiers unloading civilian belongings into open railway wagons during Finnish Karelian evacuee in 1944. At least one of the trucks uses chopped firewood as fuel - fuel tank is best seen at the truck in the middle, on the side on the truck, behind the cabin. Prime mover was carbon monoxide. Photo: Museovirasto, Näsi Valde.
A gas generator using chopped firewood as fuel was invented in the early 1900's. Describing the process shortly - oxygen blends with the burning fuel (chopped firewood) creating carbon dioxide - dioxide is led through the burning fuel and here the carbon dioxide is partially reduced into carbon monoxide which is led to the carburetor. During the WWII the gasoline shortage was universal, for instance in Germany 155 000 vehicles were equipped with a gas generator, also Sweden and Finland had over 110 000 carbon monoxide cars in combined.
.jpg "19795_r500 (1).jpg")
At the chopped wood depot the fuel is bagged. Finished bags and sacks are delivered for the military- and home front use. Photos: SA-kuva.
Driving carbon monoxide cars was not so easy - while driving a bus the fuel tank had to be filled after driving about 30 kilometers. Daily usage was 10-15 sacks of chopped wood. Filling the tank could be also dangerous while opening the tank cover the burning smut might burn or dye skin and face. The bus driver had to be sharp while driving, shifting gears all the time, otherwise the engine would stall if the rpm-indicator wasn't high enough. If the vehicle died out at the uphill, then the assistant driver jumped off the bus and hurried to put cleats behind the rear wheels in order to prevent the bus to run back to the downhill. Early in the 1950's fluid fuel import ban was released and rationing of gasoline ended.
Fairly common view during the era of carbon monoxide cars - a bus couldn't make onto the top of the hill and the civilians had to carry on by walking. Photo: Espoon kaupunginmuseo.
