Identification

[Grant Bowker]

While doing OJT at Chilliwack 1991 they gave me a propane powered van to take to Vernon as support for a CE course. Nobody asked me if I had the required propane driving and fuelling certifications. Vernon didn't have a Camp refuelling station so we went to the commercial ESSO station down the hill for fuel without problem. When I went to turn the van back in I was asked if I had filled it and responded that I would be happy to fill it if someone would show me how. You can imagine the concern on eveyone's face (except mine since we had had our transport for the two weeks) once they realized how all their wonderful checks had accidentally been circumvented by an OCdt.

As discussed in another thread propane power was one of the fads at the time that seemed like a wonderful idea until it got out into the field and it was discovered that the available technology didn't match the promised capability and the environment some of the vehicles were operated in. I had no problem with the van in lotus land except for the standard problem that empty vans do poorly in snow but cold starting was a recognized issue with propane at the time.