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Pee Power!
No, really, pee power:
Urine-powered cars, homes and personal electronic devices could be available in six months with new technology developed by scientists from Ohio University.Using a nickel-based electrode, the scientists can create large amounts of cheap hydrogen from urine that could be burned or used in fuel cells. "One cow can provide enough energy to supply hot water for 19 houses," said Gerardine Botte, a professor at Ohio University developing the technology. "Soldiers in the field could carry their own fuel."
"No, officer, I was drinking beer because I ran out of gas!"
Okay - so the gallon of urine gets a car 90 miles bothers me. It really does. With an appropriate design, I'm pretty sure a gallon of gas can do so as well. Potentially even farther and maybe with better acceleration and overall top speed. Especially if we used the gas to power an electrical motor that powered the wheels. There are efficiency losses from the conversions, but the engine can be set to run at it's optimum speed, making it significantly more efficient.
Plus, I'm not sure we produce enough concentrated urine to make this all that useful. However, the farm part is intriguing.
Posted by: Ron ap Rhys on July 15, 2009 09:12 PM