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Kentucky Man Builds Bourbon Powered Car

Posted by samzenpus on from the drink-to-drive dept.

autospa writes "With fuel prices rising like crazy, a man from Kentucky came up with a solution to high gas prices. 62-year-old Mickey Nilsson, of Bardstown, Kentucky, made a bourbon-powered junk car. He got the idea from the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Nilsson said that his inspiration came from a character played by Dick Van Dyke in the classic Disney movie."

25 of 190 comments (clear)

  1. Use caution. by FooAtWFU · · Score: 2

    There's a good chance the state will come after you for some sort of a fuel tax if you're doing something like this. :)

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    1. Re:Use caution. by Beyond_GoodandEvil · · Score: 2

      Trust me the excise tax on the alcohol is higher than the fuel tax would be.

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      I laughed at the weak who considered themselves good because they lacked claws.
    2. Re:Use caution. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I remember here in Australia back in the 80's a man made a car that ran on water was on the 6 o'clock news, a week later he was found dead. Nothing more was said.

    3. Re:Use caution. by CapOblivious2010 · · Score: 2

      I remember here in Australia back in the 80's a man made a car that ran on water was on the 6 o'clock news, a week later he was found dead. Nothing more was said.

      Oh please... really?

      Maybe he died of terminal stupidity... or embarassment at having pulled off such a scam (though it's the news people who really ought to be embarassed)

      Look, if it was really possible to power a car with water (or even get the infamous "100 MPG" you hear about occasionally) the auto companies would do it. Everyone seems to forget that even if the oil companies were all in cahoots to suppress such technology, the CAR companies (in a couple dozen countries all over the world) wouldn't give a damn what the oil companies wanted... they'd jump on such technologies in a heartbeat.

      Now if you had a headline like "Toyota announces new 100MPG car that runs on water; all Toyota employees found dead the next day" maybe I'd be interested.

    4. Re:Use caution. by Khyber · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "Look, if it was really possible to power a car with water (or even get the infamous "100 MPG" you hear about occasionally"

      Someone doesn't pay attention to SAE supermileage events where high school kids and university students build cars that drop 1,000 MPG (Yes THOUSAND) on a *REGULAR* basis.

      I think the current record is over three thousand MPG.

      I know sunlight hurts but it pays to step outside now and then.

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    5. Re:Use caution. by Totenglocke · · Score: 2

      Ooh, ooh, I know this one! This is where I make up an unprovable claim that makes me look cooler than you to "prove" a point too instead of using actual facts! Sadly for you, I'm too old to play that game, so I'll just leave you to your fantasies where a 30 mph vehicle that holds one person and no cargo is "practical".

      --
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  2. I think it's safe to say by Deathnerd · · Score: 5, Funny

    That the driver is also bourbon powered.
    Also, I'm from Kentucky and this does not surprise me at all.

    1. Re:I think it's safe to say by JustOK · · Score: 5, Funny

      Also, I'm from Kentucky and this does not surprise me at all.

      Why would being from Kentucky surprise you?

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  3. Neat...but... by Zantac69 · · Score: 2

    ...bourbon is much more expensive than petrol - even at european prices.

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    1. Re:Neat...but... by FooAtWFU · · Score: 2

      "Neat"? Come on, sir. It's wizard. It's smashing. It's keen.

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    2. Re:Neat...but... by brusk · · Score: 4, Funny

      No, it had better be neat. If it were on the rocks that would make the engine much less efficient.

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      .sig withheld by request
  4. What a waste by dkleinsc · · Score: 4, Funny

    Why would you use up perfectly good bourbon on driving somewhere? I mean, this seems about as bright as the bumbling alchemist proudly announcing that he'd found a way to turn gold into lead.

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    1. Re:What a waste by Viperpete · · Score: 2

      Why would you use up perfectly good bourbon on driving somewhere?

      To get more bourbon.

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  5. Re:Weird coincidences by ArcherB · · Score: 2

    I watched Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on TV this morning, for the first time I've seen it since I was a little kid.

    (Powering a car on alcohol is no feat, with modern engines, it requires little more than pouring the alcohol into the gas tank and tweaking timing a bit - if your ecu wont do that for you automatically)

    Well, to be fair, unless it is REALLY strong Bourbon, it won't ignite. It's not like you can just put Jack Daniels in your tank and run it. 80 proof is not strong enough to be flammable.

    I'd still like to see if this would be better if this were something other than an internal combustion engine. Turbine engines can run off just about anything that will burn from natural gas, to gasoline, to Bacardi 151 to kerosene with very little modification if any at all. I still don't understand why we don't use turbine engines in cars. Even if not practical in a standard setup, it should make sense in a hybrid setup. I would love to be able to go to a gas station and say, "Hmmm. What kind of fuel do I want today? Hey, the line for diesel is shorter, I guess I'm getting diesel this week."

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  6. The important part by elsJake · · Score: 2

    Bourbon is 40% ABV.
    Anything under 50% doesn't really burn directly , I'm curious what he did to make it run.
    Perhaps using excess engine heat to separate alcohol evaporating it first from the content.

    1. Re:The important part by radicalpi · · Score: 4, Informative

      Not all Bourbons are 40% ABV. That's just the minimum. Many are 50+%, but, most are 40-48%, but, TFA states it will run off any Bourbon, so your curiousness still remains.

  7. Oblig.. by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 2

    One for you and one for me.

    One for you and one for me.

    One for you...

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  8. Re:Weird coincidences by wagnerrp · · Score: 2

    Turbine engines run at high power, but low torque. The need significant gearing to be useful for automotive operation, and even then, do not spool quickly enough to have acceptable acceleration. Turbines would work fine as a generator in an electric vehicle, but in a hybrid where the engine remains attached to the drive train, you have every bit the same problem.

    Turbines are very compact, and due to their high combustion temperatures, can run on nearly anything. For thermal efficiency, turbines benefit greatly from scale, meaning a small turbine will not be. A small diesel generator is going to operate considerably more efficient than a small turbine. It's a tradeoff whether you have a small, light engine, or a more efficient one.

  9. Re:Weird coincidences by Mindcontrolled · · Score: 2

    The problem with turbines is not high maintenance, but their slow response to changes in power level. Direct drive is basically out. On hybrids, where the turbine can run at its optimal point of operation, it might be more feasible.

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  10. Rich Uncle Pennybags! by gabebillings · · Score: 4, Funny

    That dude is driving a full-sized version of the race car from Monopoly.

  11. My math may be off, but... by DerekLyons · · Score: 2

    My math may be off, but burning $100+/gal bourbon in place of $3.00-4.00/gal gasoline doesn't seem to add up.

  12. Not cool. by carpefishus · · Score: 3, Funny

    That's alcohol abuse.

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  13. Justified by android.dreamer · · Score: 2

    I hope I get to see this car on the show "Justified"!

  14. Re:Waste of good alcohol by Wumpus · · Score: 4, Funny

    What a waste! I'd be interested if it was "Kentucky man builds Budwiesier powered car" Now that is something we can afford to use a fuel source instead of a drink

    Oh please - not the old "water powered car" hoax again...

  15. Re:Weird coincidences by Doodlesmcpooh · · Score: 2

    Marine Turbine Technologies got around this problem by having the turbine running full speed the whole time and using a clutch type system to control power delivery. The issue with their motorcycles was the cost as they used turbines from Bell Jet Ranger helicopters and these are still expensive even when they are no longer fit to be used in aircraft.