Driving on Starch

Roland Piquepaille writes "Using sugar contained in corn or potatoes to build hydrogen-powered fuel cells has already been done. But now, a team of U.S. researchers has developed a new sugar-to-hydrogen technology. Why not put the starch inside the tank of your car? With the help of 13 specific enzymes, 'a car with an approximately 12-gallon tank could hold 27 kilograms (kg) of starch, which is the equivalent of 4 kg of hydrogen. The range would be more than 300 miles, estimates one of the researchers. One kg of starch will produce the same energy output as 1.12 kg (0.38 gallons) of gasoline.' The beauty behind this idea is that no special infrastructure would be needed. Starch could be distributed by your local grocery store."

Comments

Re:Hay

[CrazyJim1]

I want my car to burn hay!

I have one that burns rice.

The only infinite resource is "human stupidity"

[Joce640k]

The only infinite resource we have is "human stupidity". When we figure out how to split water molecules using stupidity we'll have the problem licked fer sure.

I'm sure a breakthrough can't be too far away, most modern SUVs are already running on 50% stupidity, we just need to improve the yield.

Ooblick!

[Lt.Hawkins]

This will cause world-wide ooblick shortages! Won't someone think of the Children?

Re:Pop and junk food or ... human fat !

[zippthorne]

Yes, but the car doesn't consume ANY twinkies when it's in the garage. Did you account for that?

Re:Question

[Khyber]

"What do people normally buy at the grocery store in 12 or 13 gallon quantities right now?"

Beer! 24oz cans, 10/$10 at Krogers!

Re:Question

[ncc74656]

12 gallons of starch is like, 110 or so bags of starch at the store...

You'd finally have a use for the mega-sized box of starch at Costco...you'd need only 11 of those. :-)