British engineers create a car powered by methane gas

Published Date: 10th Aug 2010

A car powered by methane gas has been created by a team of British engineers. The Bio-Bug as it has been named, runs reliably on biogas, produced from human waste at sewage works across the country. Excrement flushed down the toilets of just 70 homes is enough to power the pioneering VW Beetle 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 Britains first car to run on methane gas without its performance being reduced. The vehicles improved reliability means that its makers believe it can blow away electric cars and pave the way for a green motoring revolution. Mohammed Saddiq, of sustainable energy firm GENeco, which developed the prototype promised that drivers wont know the difference. He said, "Previously the gas hasnt been clean enough to fuel motor vehicles without it affecting performance. "However, through using the latest technology our Bio-Bug drives like any conventional car and whats more it uses sustainable fuel." "We thought it would be appropriate that the poo-powered car should be the classic VW Beetle Bug because bugs naturally breakdown waste at sewage works to start the treatment process which goes on to produce the energy." "At the moment we are using waste flushed down the toilets in homes but it wont be long before the energy will also be generated through the treatment of food waste." "If you were to drive the car you wouldnt know it was powered by biogas as it performs just like any conventional car. It is probably the most sustainable car around." The Bio-Bug is a conventional 2 litre VW Beetle convertible, which has been modified to run on both conventional fuel and compressed methane gas. The car, which has a top speed of 114mph, is started using unleaded petrol but automatically switches to methane when the engine is up to temperature. If the methane tank runs out the Bio-Bug reverts back to petrol.

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