The GENeco, British company specializing in developing sustainable design, disclosed information on its New Beetle convertible powered by methane gas. In addition to using alternative fuel, the company stands as the main innovation of your design the way it produces the fuel, since this is from the waste dumped in toilets.
The process to generate the so-called "biogas" is simple, the company reports. Simply add the organic content in an environment that lacks oxygen. Under these conditions, anaerobic bacteria (which do not need oxygen to survive) feed on the organic material and produce methane (CH4), the same gas that is released in landfills. The methane is then separated from carbon dioxide and used as natural gas.
The advantages of the project are great, starting with the greenhouse effect, since methane, because of its chemical formula, holds about 20 times more heat than CO2. In addition to using the gas would be released into the atmosphere, the GENeco reports that the decomposition of the material generates fertilizer (fertilizer) quality to be used in plantations.
According to the company for one year, 70 homes are sufficient to produce fuel for a vehicle that travels 16,000 km in the period. Although methane has the chemical formula less energy than gasoline (C8H18) or ethanol (C6H12O6), which, in theory, would make the engine less powerful, the company said adjustments and procedures were performed for the New Beetle is as efficient as with the original propeller. According to the brand, the VW model in the photos can reach a top speed of 183 km / h.