Shanwen Tao and Rong Lan, researchers at the Heriot-Watt University’s School of Engineering and Physical Sciences in Edinburgh are reiterating what Gerardine Botte, the Ohio University scientist claimed a year back. They are asking all and sundry to pee into the gas tank in hope that vehicles could actually run on this fuel in near future. For this purpose, they have developed certain urine-powered fuel cells.
The prototype fuel cell system replaces the use of inflammable substances with urea, which is found in human urine in abundance. The researchers utilize a novel technology that breaks the non-toxic carbamide (another name for urea) into water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. As the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council credits the effort with a $203,000 aid, the researchers are sure that those who usually, or occasionally, find them stranded without a gas station within hailing distance do not need to wait for help. They’ll just pee into the tank and get going!
Via: Thaindian News