Wood gas, or wood gasification, is a decades-old renewable energy technology that converts chunks of firewood, wood chips or other cellulosic biomass to charcoal, volatile and combustible gases, and occasionally, combustible liquids.

The process, which is called pyrolysis, is accomplished by cooking the wood (under low oxygen conditions) in a wood-gas generator and collecting the vapors, which are then directed to the vehicle's (ideally a truck or SUV with room to carry the gas generator) carburetor to be burned instead of gasoline.

The principal “waste” product from this process is charcoal, which is now being studied as a valuable amendment for some soils. (To learn more, read Make Biochar — this Ancient Technique Will Improve Your Soil.)  

This process was used to fuel trucks in England during World War II. Because today’s society continues to be extremely dependent upon gasoline as our primary fuel for transportation, wood gas has received research attention from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). A report, prepared by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which works for the Department of Energy, provides detailed instructions for construction, installation and operation of a wood-gas generator. Download the report (NOTE: this is a 25 MB+ file and thus may not be feasible to download over a slow Internet connection) via the following link: Construction of a Simplified Wood Gas Generator for Fueling Internal Combustion Engines in a Petroleum Emergency.

The purpose of the report "is to develop detailed, illustrated instructions for the fabrication, installation, and operation of a biomass gasifier unit (that is, a "producer gas" generator, also called a "wood gas" generator) which is capable of providing emergency fuel for vehicles, such as tractors and trucks, in the event that normal petroleum sources were severely disrupted for an extended period of time. These instructions are prepared in the format of a manual for use by any mechanic who is reasonably proficient in metal fabrication or engine repair.

This report attempts to preserve the knowledge about wood gasification as put into practical use during World War II. Detailed, step-by-step fabrication procedures are presented for a simplified version of the World War II, Imbert wood gas generator. This simple, stratified, downdraft gasifier unit can be constructed for materials which would be widely available in the United States in a prolonged petroleum crisis. For example, the body of the unit consists of a galvanized metal garbage can atop a small metal drum; common plumbing fittings are used throughout; and a large, stainless steel mixing bowl is used for the grate. The entire compact unit was mounted onto the front of a farm tractor and successfully field tested, using wood chips as the only fuel. Photographic documentation of the actual assemble of the unit as well as its operation is included."

In the early 1980s, the MOTHER EARTH NEWS staff experimented with the wood gas concept to power a truck. They eventually produced a wood gasification system, fabricated from recycled water heaters, that was successful enough to warrant a wood gas generator plan to offer in the magazine.

More recently, Robert Beam of Williamsport, Pa., converted his 1988 Isuzu Trooper to run on firewood (see photo). The SUV is able to run 20 miles on 25 pounds of wood chips. You can read more about Beam’s truck and find a list of MOTHER EARTH NEWS articles on the subject in This Truck Runs on Wood Chips! And visit the Beaver Energy website to learn more about the Trooper.

Another resource for firsthand advice is the Wood Gas discussion group.

If you like to tinker with engines and want a more sustainable, self-reliant fuel for your truck, consider creating a wood-gas generator for your vehicle. If you do, please share your successes and failures with others by posting a comment below.

Photos: Robert "Chip" Beam show wood chips that power his wood-powered Isuzu Trooper; Beam drives his in the Green Grand Prix in Watkins Glen, N.Y.

Photos by David Duprey/AP Wide World

More than 25 years ago, MOTHER EARTH NEWS reported on how to run a truck with wood chips. The idea is still sawin’ after all these years. 

As reported yesterday in The New York Times, Robert “Chip” Beam of Williamsport, Pa., converted his 1988 Isuzu Trooper SUV to run on wood chips (see photo). The Trooper runs 20 miles on 25 pounds of wood chips, which Beam gets for free. Visit the Beaver Energy website to learn more about the Trooper.

Beam tells the Times that in the summer of 2005 he was inspired to figure out how to run cars on a fuel aside from gas. So he got to work, crafting his system from our articles and various other online resources. Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like he found the conversion plans we offer. 

Like the original MOTHER EARTH NEWS woodburning truck, Beam’s system has a furnace that sits in the back of the vehicle. He can use just about any type of scrap wood, which is burned to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which burns in the Trooper’s original engine without modifications. The Trooper can go up to about 45 miles per hour and emits a faint smell of charcoal barbeque. 

Beam says he’s now working to create “the fastest wood-powered car on the planet.” Specifically, he’s modifying a 1991 Mercury Cougar. I'm curious to hear how the sysytem will fit in the trunk!

I hope to contact Beam to learn more about his setup. And we’re also going to soon post a detailed report prepared for the Federal Emergency Management Agency by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Department of Energy called "Construction of a Simplified Wood Gas Generator for Fueling Internal Combustion Engines in a Petroleum Emergency." Stay tuned. 

In the meantime, here’s a comprehensive list of our articles and plans related to wood chip power: 

Wood-Gas Generator Plans

You can use wood chips to power a truck or other gas or diesel engine by using this wood-gas generator fabricated from recycled water heaters. The generator converts the energy in the wood into a gaseous form that can be using instead of gasoline.  The plans include a materials list, step-by-step instructions and black-and-white photos. Advanced mechanical and metalworking skills recommended. 

Mother’s Woodburning Truck

Mother is Going to the Races!

Wood-Gas Update

Homemade Motor Fuel … from Firewood

They Run Their Truck on Wood!

Ajax … The Woodburning, Steam-Powered Truck

Can We Use Wood to Beat the Gasoline Shortage?

Dear Mother: Producer Gas Vehicles

How to Run Your Own Car on Wood

Photo: Robert "Chip" Beam drives his wood-powered Isuzu Trooper in the Green Grand Prix in Watkins Glen, N.Y.

Photo by David Duprey/AP Wide World

UPDATE, 6/9/2009:

I have finally tracked down a digital version of the FEMA report. You can download the report (NOTE: this is a 25 MB+ file and thus may not be feasible to download over a slow Internet connection) via the following link: Construction of a Simplified Wood Gas Generator for Fueling Internal Combustion Engines in a Petroleum Emergency.