I think what everyone is referring to is running a vehicle off what is called a downdraft gassifier, a wood gasifier or a wood gas generator. I searched and could not find good plans to build one. If anyone finds a link to some good plans please post it. All I know is wood gassifiers are supposed to work better on autos than stationary applications because the unit needs to be shaken for the ashes and such to drop down. Charcoal that can be reused for cooking is supposed to be a byproduct so in theory you get energy from the wood twice. I would love to be able to run my vehicle off woodgas I got lots of brush in my yard to clear. It bugs me about all the potential energy I waste just burning it to get rid of it. I also wonder how well woodchips could be used in this process I know of several places their is an endless free supply of them. If you checkout page three of the pdf on the link I am about to post their is some interesting info on a wood gas generator that burns sawdust. http://www.green-trust.org/woodgas.pdf

 

actually a freind of mine grew up in hollad during WW2 and he said they used something like that I will ask him if he remembers a name or something, apparently it was the only way you could run a vihical at the time as the gas was all needed by the german forces of occupation. they wernt much for sharing

 

There is one in a museum in South Eastern Minn. I saw it but did not see it run but they say it did run at one time. It's probably 10 years ago or so since we were there.

It's an old pickup with a big wood burning stove and other apparatus back in the box of the pickup.

I think it's in the museum at the little town of Fountain near Preston which is SE of Rochester. If not in Fountain it would be close by in that area of the state.

 

I sent an email to the Fillmore County History Center in S.E. Minn. and got an answer back. They still have the wood burning pickup truck and it is now owned by them.
Interesting to see if you ever get by that way.