Paihia Taxis & Tours

Paihia Taxis & Tours Limited is,as far as we know, the only company of its kind that runs its vehicles on 100% Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO), known locally as "Geoff's Gourmet Gas" and is not to be confused with biodiesel
We operate what is known as “The Paihia “it’s not a HYBRID, it’s a FRYBRID” shuttle,

“Geoff’s Gourmet Gas” is simply Waste Vegetable Oil which is collected on a regular basis from local chip shops and restaurants, cleaned and filtered down to 5 microns in Paihia Taxis & Tours Limited’s own (waste vegetable) oil refinery then used as fuel in 2 Toyota shuttle/tour vans.

Paihia Taxis & Tours Limited, are committed to “doing their bit” to try to keep their part of New Zealand clean and green and to attract more environmentally concerned tourists to New Zealand’s Winterless North. Paihia Taxis & Tours Limited is literally a “mom and pop” business with Geoff and Naomi doing everything that needs to be done.

The 2 Toyota vans, used in the business, have now been converted to run on 100% WVO. The conversion kit was invented by 2 enterprising young individuals in Whangarei who were supplied with free oil while testing the kit in one of their own vehicles. The arrangement was that if the kit worked, and it did, then Paihia Taxis & Tours Limited would be their first customer, and they were. The first conversion, on a 1999 Toyota Hiace, was done in December 2007 and the vehicle has done well over 15000 km on 100%WVO since that time. The van averages 8.5 km per litre which has meant a saving of some 1760 litres of diesel and, assuming $1.20 per litre, a saving of over $2,100.00 in fuel costs. The second van, a 2003 Toyota, has now been converted and the company is now, in effect, energy self sufficient as far as its vehicles are concerned. Geoff collects the dirty oil, cleans it and puts it in the 1000 litre storage tank until it is required. The company has an increasing demand for its surplus oil, which is sold to regular customers in Whangarei for $0.70 per litre plus GST, and which causes periodic “peak oil” problems of its own!

Paihia Taxis & Tours Limited see their switch to 100% WVO as one of two major changes that have been made during the past year. The second one is in the area of “trees.” The company is experimenting with growing 2 types of trees. One is known as “the miracle tree” because of its many beneficial properties, not least of which are the oil content of its seeds, which is food grade and can be used as biofuel after being used for cooking, and (the seed) can also be used as a water purifier. The University of Leicester has set up a complete water purifying system in the African country of Mali, using the seeds from “the miracle tree.” The second is known as “the diesel tree” because its oil can be used as an alternative to diesel and the seed cake makes very good fertiliser. The “diesel tree” is also a “Nitrogen fixing” tree which is beneficial to the environment.

Both trees are susceptible to frost, but can survive “light” frosts, which is why it is hoped that they will grow successfully in Northland, New Zealand’s “Winterless North.” There are vast tracts of land in Northland which, if the trees survive Winter, could be planted with both species. The benefits from the trees would be enormous. There would be carbon credits for a start followed by the harvesting of the leaves and fruit (seeds),all of which are edible, from “the miracle tree” and the seeds from “the diesel tree.” The beauty of both species is that they can be harvested every year without being cut down, unlike the case with Pine trees, and the land owner doesn’t have to wait 30 years for a return. The other benefits would be a reduction in the importation of cooking oil and diesel fuel thereby helping to reduce New Zealand’s astronomical overseas debt.

Paihia Taxis & Tours Limited hope that, as a result of their total switch from fossil fuel (diesel) to 100% Waste Vegetable Oil and their ability to custom design programmes/tours, they will become the Northland transport provider of choice for corporate travel incentive companies and conference groups.
Our latest endeavour is investigating alcohol as a fuel. Geoff attenede an Eco conference in Taupo recently where he heard and met David Blume, author of "Alcohol Can Be A Gas.' David came to Kaikohe and spoke to a packed hall of some 140, holding them spell bound with his examples of how alcohol cannot only fuel vehicles locally and sustainably, but also benefit the environment by reducing green house gases and the use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers and helping to eliminate the use of GM seeds. A visit to "www.permaculture.com" will be very enlightening. We are becoming an importer/distributor of the book "Alcohol Can Be a Gas"