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Sewage-powered car hits the road

A VW Beetle car that runs on methane, generated from human excrement, has been developed in an attempt to encourage sustainable motoring.

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Source: SBS


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A Volkswagen Beetle powered by gas from sewage has taken to the road for the first time in Britain.

The Bio-Bug was launched by Wessex Water, which is generating methane from human waste at a sewage treatment works near Bristol.

The company claims the prototype is able to cover 10,000 miles annually on the waste from 70 households.

Mohammed Saddiq, of sustainable energy firm GENeco, which developed the prototype believes the car can 'blow away' electric cars and pave the way for a green motoring revolution.

He says the increased production of bio gas will accelerate the growth in this still-nascent market.

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"Waste flushed down the toilets in homes in the city provides power for the Bio-Bug, but it won't be long before further energy is produced when food waste is recycled at our sewage works," he said in a statement.

"It will mean that both human waste and food waste will be put to good use in a sustainable way that diverts waste from going to landfill."


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