Surprising Science — August 6, 2010

Sewage Powered Car

"A car that runs on methane gas produced by human waste has been launched and its makers claim drivers cannot tell the difference." The Telegraph reports on an alternative to electric vehicles.

bigthinkeditor

“A car that runs on methane gas produced by human waste has been launched and its makers claim drivers cannot tell the difference.” The Telegraph reports on an alternative to electric vehicles. “The Bio-Bug has been converted by a team of British engineers to be powered by biogas, which is produced from human waste at sewage works across the country. They believe the car is a viable alternative to electric vehicles. Excrement flushed down the lavatories of just 70 homes is enough to power the car for 10,000 miles—the equivalent of one average motoring year. This conversion technology has been used in the past but the Bio-Bug is Britain’s first car to run on methane gas without its performance being reduced. It can power a conventional two litre VW Beetle convertible to 114mph.”

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A black and white image of Isaiah Berlin.

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