Man's 1972 Chevrolet has traveled over 100,000 km without using gasoline and how it does it is actually genius
Published on Apr 20, 2026 at 2:15 AM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Apr 20, 2026 at 2:15 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
This guy has been running his 1983 Chevrolet DIY truck without gasoline for over 100,000 kilometers.
Amazingly, it actually works.
He did it with a clever system that 99 people out of 100 wouldn’t be able to build, which is why there are crucial safety caveats and potential red flags to address.
And by the way, that’s not necessarily one of those red flags, but the system also explains the weird look of the truck.
This is how this gasoline-free vehicle works
YouTuber Jp Prat Projects struck YouTube gold after posting a video that’s already accrued 200,000+ views in a matter of hours.
But that’s because what he’s done is unprecedented, and genius.
The truck uses a gasifier mounted behind the cabin to convert wood chips into a combustible gas.
Wood is heated to produce a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and the gas is then cooled and filtered before being sent to the engine.
A specialized mixer then combines the wood gas with the correct amount of air for the engine to burn.
As a result, the YouTuber gets to run his 1972 5.7-liter Chevrolet truck with no gasoline at all.
There are a lot of downsides.
First, it takes up to 10 minutes to start the car.
Second, you get a strange-looking vehicle.
That giant front grille is actually a gas cooler.
It looks a bit funky, but it’s necessary.
The reason why you shouldn’t try this at home
There are at least three reasons why you shouldn’t try this at home.
First, with a gasoline exhaust, you get carbon monoxide as a byproduct, whereas with this system, carbon monoxide is the main component of the chemical reaction.
Any leak in the plumbing or the gasifier itself could release gas into the cabin, which would be both odorless and colorless.
This leads us to the CO detector in the cabin, which you’d absolutely need.
Also, this ‘powertrain’ operates at extremely high temperatures, which can lead to fires.
Gas is super expensive at the moment, but this solution – though perfect for a video – isn’t exactly a practical alternative.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
