Car Consuming Coffee More Expensive Than Gas
The Carpuccino requires 56 espressos per mile. Talk about on edge.
A former boss used to feed his plants with coffee. Horrified, I once asked him if the brew was actually healthy for plants. He assured me that they wouldn't die, adding that it helps energize their growth. Scratching my head, I assumed that must be why our parents refused to let us drink coffee when we were kids... to keep us small and easier to push around.
The same can't be said about a coffee-powered car. The sole purpose in feeding a car our favorite bean-based brew is to use something other than fossil fuels. Mail Online reports that a team at the BBC1 science show Bang Goes The Theory has created what they call the Carpuccino, using a 1988 Volkswagen Scirocco and a whole lot of piping.
But don't get your hopes up: a coffee-juiced car is more expensive to run than using premium gasoline, consuming around 56 espressos per mile and costing you 50 times more than gas (I can't even drink three within an hour). Even worse, the team must stop every 60 miles to clean out the "coffee filters" which collect soot and tar. This makes trips extremely drawn out despite the car's top speed of 60 MPH.
The idea is rather neat, but obviously the outcome isn't exactly practical. Consumers wanting to save on gas might be better off just purchasing a bicycle and drinking espressos along the journey.
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The idea is not neat, it's stupid. So is your first paragraph in this article, sorry to say.
only the germans
I thought it was neat.
I think it would be cooler if a group of kids made it for their science fair (think middle to high school), but it's still a really novel idea.
Cost price or retail coffee? =P
Mountain dew car???
vnc
hooray for a Scirocco! I've always wanted one
Ironically a Snickers bar contains roughly the same amount of energy as a stick of dynamite, however it doesn't quickly release energy and makes it fairy useless for explosives or an engine. Just thought I'd throw that out there ^_^
One small step for backward for consumers
one big step towards profits for coffee makers
all you need is Phillip the hyper-hypo, and a chocolate bar.
I couldn't stop laughing while reading the article
Look on the bright side, it might consume a lot, but everybody driving behind would be well awaken with the smell hehehe
Ever get the idea the commentary could have been written a little differently? A tad more positive for making a coffee car?
Mountain dew car???
Imagine this thing on 5-hour energy.
The first "horseless carriage" burned a whole lot more than 56 cups full of fuel per mile, needed constant maintenance, and didn't go anywhere near 60mph....
The internal combustion is what it is because of 100 years of R&D.
Shouldn't the title of the article be coffee consuming car. Since the car consumes the coffee and the coffee doesn't consume the car
I would imagine the technology could be honed and made into a viable soloution, Somehow i cant see it happening however.
Perhaps Maxwell House will step in with a serious ammount of money and make it happen
well it will be fine for colombia
There is a reason why we burn fossil fuels. Still the best bang for your buck not to mention growing fuel is a waste of crop land and really doesn't improve your mileage. You still end up burning just about the same amount of fossil fuel for the same amount of energy.
There is a reason why we burn fossil fuels. Still the best bang for your buck not to mention growing fuel is a waste of crop land and really doesn't improve your mileage. You still end up burning just about the same amount of fossil fuel for the same amount of energy.
Indeed. I believe you currently lose enough mileage running on ethanol to cancel out its savings over gas at the pump.
But does it run Java?
wouldn't it be easier to use the charcoal they use to roast the beans to generate a steam powered electrical generator and run a few motors off that?
This should serve to remind us that gas currently is not really all that expensive. Think about it: To get gas requires millions to be spent in exploration and extraction of oil, refinement, shipping and distribution, and is non-renewable. Then add on the heavy state and federal taxes. Milk on the other hand, is totally renewable and made by cows eating grass. Yet they are nearly identical in cost per gallon.
How to max out your credit card = pull into a Starbucks with this car!
But why not base it on a Suzuki Cappuccino? You have the name, plus they weigh less than 700kg, so more efficient.
this car should be mass produced in Brazilia...
Of course it's not practical, they didn't put the sugar in yet.
Didn't toms just do an article a couple of weeks ago about a car that gets 2400mpg?
But does it run Java?
Heh, be careful, if that phrase gets too popular you might draw some unwanted hammer-related attention.
Ironically a Snickers bar contains roughly the same amount of energy as a stick of dynamite, however it doesn't quickly release energy and makes it fairy useless for explosives or an engine. Just thought I'd throw that out there ^_^
Yes, but a Snickers bar is not as tasty as dynamite.
I think I'll get more milage by just drinking the 56 espressos and walking
During the war cars in Finland and Sweden were powered just like this - on carbon monoxide gas from burning wood in a pan in the boot or a small trailer
Charcoal burning in the boot probably emits more carbon than the modern petrol powered internal combustion engine.