Other Interesting Background Stories About Gas Conversions
1970 Propane |
1963 LPG Conversion |
Harold Bate Inventions |
Methane Truck |
Pig Powered Car |
History
In the following pages we are looking back in time to inventors that stumbled on ideas that we can use today and systems
(if you have any information on early gas systems please contact us with the link above)
Using Gas to propel vehicles is not a new idea there are stories of a fire cart (devil cart) being used in China as as
early as 800BC during the Chu dynasty but the use of gases in combustion engines is more recent
(in the early 1800's).
It's not necessary to go far in the past to in order to understand the history of first engines: just 150 years ago,
in Tuscany we find the roots of the engineering.
Eugenio Barsanti
1821-1864
The origins of gas -combustion engine seem to start at the in the early 1800's, when there were various
experiments in France and Great Britain, but with insufficient results because the studies were based on
steam engine. In 1840-1850, father Eugenio Barsanti, a monk from Pietra Santa, particularly interested
in mathematics and technical physics began to project an engine powered by a gaseous mixture. Thanks
to his technical abilities he was called to take part to a "Granducale" commission to approve the better
project for the reorganization of a swampy zone among the provinces of Pisa, Firenze and Lucca.
Felice Matteucci
1808-1887
During that period, Barsanti met Felice Matteucci, an engineer from Lucca, expert in mechanics and hydraulics,
who, understanding the potentialities of the project, was interested in Barsanti's research. A solid collaboration
was established between the two, later transformed into a common plan: the 5th of June 1853, the official date
of internal-combustion engine, the two masters deposited in the Assembly of the Academy of the Georgofili of
Florence a parcel with three seals named "On some experiments by Eugenio Barsanti and Felice Matteucci".
Faltering First Steps
Finally after a year the Granducato Government granted the licence. After this the "Society Barsanti Matteucci" was created and commissioned the Benini foundries of Florence with the realisation of the first engines of the new machine. The engines produced were approved by the experts and were used in boats, but later on France, Germany and Great Britain improved the engine with new licences. Barsanti/Matteucci's society faced serious difficulties not on technical aspects but on organisation. The modest capabilities of Italian industry created difficulties with the wide scale production of engines.The Forgotten Heroes
Just as the situation seemed to return to normality Prof. Barsanti, already sick, died in 1864. Matteucci continued the research but he had to abandon it very soon owing to nervous exhaustion. With Matteucci's death in 1887 an era of internal combustion engine history was almost forgotten.To this day, many people fail to ascribe the kudos deserved to the partnership of Barsanti and Matteucci for their part in the the development of internal-combustion engines which represent the origin of ancient and modern gas car engines.Going Green in the 1890's
Moreover, compared to the other "generators of mechanical energy " (steam engine that burnt coal and firewood) this engine was "clean". Gasoline and diesel oil weren't sold yet: the fuel was a mixture of air and gas.So the Barsanti / Matteucci partnership could be seen as the first auto-motive eco-warriors.UKLPG Approved Installers
Gas Power UK Ltd has achieved the standard required by the UKLPG
to provide installations that your insurance company and you can have complete confidence in.
Diesel / LPG Bi-Fuel
Find out how large haulage companies are taking advantage of the increase in power and cleaner burning fuel to save money and the environment .Find an LPG Filling Station
Click
the image to find your local
station with LPG. Or click this link:LPG MAP
