Chicken Powered Cars
 

A previous thread suggested that classic motors would eventually become obsolete as petroleum supplies ran out. In the late 60's a publication called Mother Earth Journal (alternative life styles, read hippy) did several articals about converting autos to run on methane generated from chicken manure. Would it be possible to convert modern fuel injected motors to run on methane or natural gas? If so this could extend the life of the classics indefinitely.

Gasoline will be around for the next several hundred years.

And who wants an XK8/XKR powered by farts?:icon_headbang:

Let me rephrase
 

Sure gasoline will still be around but how much will it cost? And what about environmental regulations? Also don't motors run better and last longer on alternative fuels?

One more thing
 

Who will be drilling, refining and selling when only classic cars are using gasoline?

The portability and energy density of Petroleum fuels and Bio-diesel ensure they'll be used for as long as they're available (an objective assessment of Bio-diesel's economic viability may threaten it someday though). Even liquid hydrogen isn't a comparable replacement for these.

At least one process exists today that can break down any hydrocarbon and reconstruct it as another. This means that someday coal will be converted into gasoline. The process just isn't cost effective right now, and with the current administration in place, there is certainly no government money being dedicated to its development. However, someday it "will" be utilized. Rest assured, we'll be able be fuel for our cars for centuries to come, but yes - price may become a factor someday in the distant future.

It is however conceivable that when battery technology advances another generation or two, someday folks will be retrofitting our cars with electric power plants (as opposed to today's small block Chevy mods). The loss of our "Growls" will be sorely missed though.

Battery powered cars will be a very short term interim technology. Hydrogen will be practical shortly and is being extensively tested now.

Germany did that quite effectively in the 1940's.

The future will probably be a mix of storage medium and high density fuels. Short term will probably be the current hybrid technology.

Remember, converting gasoline fueled vehicles to battery power requires burning coal in power plants to charge the batteries.

If gasoline doesn't exist, why not switch to ethanol. You can make that yourself.

I'm not sure about Hybrids. Economic viability remains a challenge for them. Their fuel mileage is good of course, but their total ownership costs can be beat by diesels. Someday they might incorporate Formula 1 type energy recovery systems and photo cells, which would further boost their efficiency - but again, total ownership cost is a factor.

I do like the fuel cell technology. With better batteries and a way to safely handle the hydrogen, it's probably the most likely future propulsion system.

Funny thing about hydrogen power. All the tree huggers love that its only by product is water (not quite true, but close enough). Yet, what is the most abundant green house gas? Answer: WATER VAPOR.

Now, where did I leave that Baby Seal Bat?

;)

Mine's not powered by them, but it's driven by an old one:icon_steer:

Mad Max will save us all!

Sorry I stole this from a bumper sticker...
 

...Life is too short to drive a Prius! :icon_wheel:

I converted my tbird to e85 to the tune of over 800rwhp out of a turbocharged v6. I know people who have converted to propane with great success as well. Not an issue. It can be done if need be. I did it for the octane:O)

You may scoff but I remember one guys saying come and take a look at my chicken powered car. He lifted up the bonnet and sure enough underneath were half a dozen chickens harnessed up to the car. Of course we all laughed. "never move" etc but he explained that these were specially bred genetically enhanced chickens. So we had a bet. If he could beat us to the next town in his chicken powered car we would all give him a beer. So we all lined up in our cars. Revved our engines. He opened his glove box to reveal a hole straight into the engine bay. He chucked in some food. There was a great clucking sound. Then bam ........... he was gone tyres squealing down the road at 150 mph. Disappearing in to the distance. We all followed. Knowing we had lost the bet. But 10 miles down the road the car was in a ditch steam rising from under the bonnet. A mechanic lifted the lid of the bonnet. Peered into the "engine". Thought so he said.... "your big hens gone" :)