Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 2, 1994 TAG: 9406020057
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Only two of the department's 50 vehicles have been converted to burn compressed natural gas instead of gasoline, and neither of them is a cruiser.
But if the new fuel proves to be cheaper and cleaner, and the test is expanded to include front-line vehicles, fugitives from justice may as well be on a skateboard in the Indy 500.
Compressed natural gas is very high-octane and it will make your car streak, one deputy said.
He alone mentioned the need for speed at a news conference Wednesday to announce the cooperative project between the county and United Cities Gas.
Other officials cited monetary savings and cleaner emissions as the primary goals.
The ceremony was held in a parking lot behind the county jail. It was difficult to hear what was said over the din of traffic that lumbered by, spewing small clouds of exhaust.
Sheriff Ken Phipps said his department was willing to do its part to handle criminals in an environmentally sensitive manner.
Recently, two vehicles - a passenger van and a four-wheel-drive pickup - were rigged to run on natural gas.
Using money from a Virginia Department of Transportation grant and equipment donated by United Cities Gas, storage tanks were installed in the rear of each vehicle and a snake's den of new hoses was hooked up beneath the hood.
The vehicles gas up from a new pump using a small hose that connects through the cars' grills.
"There've been a couple glitches but we're pleased with it so far," Phipps said.
Natural gas performs well enough, but you have to plan short trips and plan ahead.
It takes about four or five hours to fill up the tank, given the low pressure from the gas pump, he said.
And the gas tank runs out after only 60 miles or so.
Fortunately, the modified vehicles still have the capacity to burn gasoline. One system will automatically kick in when the other runs out.
"It don't miss a beat," Phipps said.
The sheriff's department - one of a few in Virginia trying out natural gas - has a maintenance contract with United Cities if something goes wrong. Officials are hoping the natural gas burns cleaner and reduces engine wear.
"It's too early to tell" if the experiment will work, Phipps said. Officials will tally up the costs at the end of the year and decide if it's worthwhile to convert other vehicles.
You'll know the experiment is working if county sheriff's deputies begin to wear racing helmets.
by CNB