The Ultimate Bio Waste Car

Here is a story that just could not be passed up. The ultimate bio waste car is now one that can run on urine. Yes, that's right...it's a pee power car. The interesting thing is, the pee powered engine could run lots of motors for many applications.

A team of scientists working at Ohio State University developed the catalyst that can extract hydrogen from pee. Since the device can product a lot more energy than it takes to run, it can be connected with a hydrogen fuel cell, in order to store energy that can run the motor.

Gerardine Botte is the main force behind the development of this process. Her electrolyzer uses a nickel-based electrode to extract hydrogen from urea (NH2)2CO, the main component in urine. Hydrogen is less tightly bound to the nitrogen in urea than to the oxygen in water, so the electrolyzer needs just 0.37 volts across the cell to oxidize the urea, according to Botte. That’s less than half the amount of energy in an AA battery and considerably less than the 1.23 volts needed to split water. How's that for Mother Nature's efficiency. The urine is also steril by nature, so it is not as messy a prospect as organically decomposing fecal waste, in order to product energy.

The device used to convert the urine to energy is very small, and could be carried on the car. In addition, most humans make around 2 liters of pee a day, so the supply would always be there. The bi-product is water, and is safe enough to use on a flower bed. It would not be necessary, with this hydrogen system, to have a storage tank for waste. Not a bad trade off.

With some development, and a bit of needed funding, Dr. Botte thinks that the pee powered car could be up and on the roads of the United States in a year. Perhaps the bigger battle would be to get the Yanks to give up their Petrol. Nevertheless, the pee powered car is a brilliant idea, and gives us hope to think that humanity can find better ways to power our industry.

I may even drink a pint in honor of the cause. Gents, to the ultimate bio waste car!

Johnny Smoes, Zanity.com.au