Posted on 08/21/2009 7:40:13 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
CALI (AFP) – After a three-year slog Colombian scientists have revved up a car that runs on yucca-derived ethanol, spurring hopes that the Latin American staple could be transformed into an abundant fuel.
Boffins at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) have adopted a commercial car to run on hydrated ethanol, based on yucca -- a carbohydrate-rich plant root that is also known as cassava or manioc.
The vehicle has clocked up 700 kilometers (435 miles) without major hitches CIAT said.
The tuber is more commonly found on plates in low-land and tropical regions of Latin America, where it is deep fried, boiled or mashed to make a sweeter and starchier alternative to the potato.
Cars can be adopted to use the fuel with a 120 dollar kit that can be bought over the Internet ...
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Yucca plants, seen here in Califormia in 2008. After a three-year slog Colombian scientists have revved up a car that runs on yucca-derived ethanol, spurring hopes that the Latin American staple could be transformed into an abundant fuel. (AFP/File/Gabriel Bouys)
Boffins?
That’s fine, as long as they don’t start making fuel out of the agave tequilana plant.
Always wondered how they got those big plants down that small hole into the gas tank....
Isn’t manioc also a staple food there? So what are the Colombians going to do, drive or starve?
In my youth 30 years ago i had cactus alcohol ignited and fueled runs across the midwest.
Colombian scientists have revved up a car that runs on yucca-derived ethanolOkay, dunno why, but this one gave me an unexpected and welcome belly laugh. Seems like South America should be working on ways to turn cocaine into ethanol, solving two problems. ;')
Yucca is great..much better than fries but it’s too expensive in the US and this ain’t gonna help.
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