All Sections

The public bus that runs on human waste

There’s a new public bus in town that uses poo as fuel. The waste product we all generate, that is, not that lovable bear obsessed with honey.

The “Bio-Bus” ─ nicknamed the ‘number 2’ for obvious reasons ─ uses biomethane gases generated from the treatment of sewage and food waste to turn the wheels, as opposed to more harmful fossil fuels.

The service runs between Bristol airport and Bath city centre and is under the control of Bath Bus Company. A single tank of fuel lets the bus travel up to 186 miles before a refill is needed.

Five people would need to do their business for a year to fill the tank. It is said a bus load of people would create the waste for a return journey from Land’s End in Cornwall to John O’Groats in Scotland.

It is hoped the Bio Bus will pave the way for a more sustainable public transport system while improving air quality in polluted city centres.

The fuel is treated at the Bristol sewage treatment works, which is owned by GENeco, in Avonmouth.

GENeco general manager said: “Gas-powered vehicles have an important role to play in improving air quality in UK cities, but the Bio-Bus goes further than that and is actually powered by people living in the local area, including quite possibly those on the bus itself.

“Using biomethane in this way not only provides a sustainable fuel, but also reduces our reliance on traditional fossil fuels.”

Besides allegedly being cleaner than a traditional diesel engine, using the vast amount of human waste on tap could help lower the cost of travelling on the bus. Nothing crappy about that, huh?

Before you ask, the poo-powered vehicle has actual seats so there’s no need to help fill up the tank, so to speak, as you ride on it. Bus journeys can be awkward enough as it is.

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *