Alternative-Fuel Vehicles Cross the Country

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MOTHER EARTH NEWS' wood-burning truck, which made the trek across the country.
MOTHER EARTH NEWS' wood-burning truck, which made the trek across the country.
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The functional engine of an alternative-fuel car.
The functional engine of an alternative-fuel car.
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An alcohol-powered vehicle.
An alcohol-powered vehicle.
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One of the the team's experimental vehicles. 
One of the the team's experimental vehicles. 
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Checking under the hood of the wood-powered truck.
Checking under the hood of the wood-powered truck.
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A close up of the wood-powered truck.
A close up of the wood-powered truck.
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An alternative-fuel vehicle.
An alternative-fuel vehicle.
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Team members perform a few tune-ups.
Team members perform a few tune-ups.

Regular readers of this publication are no doubt aware that members of MOTHER EARTH NEWS’ research crew spent a great deal of time and effort preparing both our wood-burning truck and our ethanol-powered van for the Los Angeles to New York City “Future Fuels Rally” sponsored by Shepard Electronics, Inc. of Rochester, New York.

Well, the big event was held during the week of October 17-24 in 1981. Though there were — as could have been predicted in an undertaking of this magnitude — a few disappointments along the way, 20 vehicles rolled into the Big Apple powered by just about everything but petroleum!

Challenges With Homemade Fuel

  • Published on Jan 1, 1982
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