Bioengines

I have an idea. We switch fuel sources from gasoline to methane. Methane has the benefits of high energy output, like gasoline, but with the added bonus of being something we can produce, rather than extract from limited supply. Sources like organic waste farmed by methanobacteria, as well as other commercial and natural sources, could potentially supply enough methane to power engines and industries which currently rely on gasoline, most notably, automobiles.

We already have the capability to convert gasoline engines to run on natural gas (which is mostly methane). We can subsidize the cost for people to change their cars, possibly through vouchers or a tax rebate. This would solve one of the major hurdles facing a switch to renewable-energy vehicles, the cost of entry and the need to do something with all the cars people already own.

We could use our existing organic waste, both sewage and all the food waste; residential, commercial, and agricultural. We could have new energy suppliers, production centers where organic waste is converted to fuel through the use of methanobacteria. And an opportunity for a new service to pick up food waste and transfer it to energy production centers. We all hate throwing food away, now we could do some good with it.

Ideally we would advance the technology, possibly through genetic engineering, to the point where we could have substrate chambers within the vehicles, with the byproducts of the combustion (CO2 and H2O) diverted back into the chamber to feed the bacteria. But until that point we could have a byproduct chamber within the vehicles, where those products are stored and emptied out either at the production centers or to the waste collection service.

The benefits are manifold, and the implementation simple. The switch would be a conversion and expansion of existing systems and suppliers, rather than a start-from-scratch overhaul. The supply of oil is only getting smaller, and we need a solution before the situation reaches critical mass.

Plus, come on. Fartomobiles.