VW Bug Powered by Methane from Human Waste a Car the Entire Family Can Enjoy

VW Bug Powered by Methane from Human Waste a Car the Entire Family Can Enjoy

It's difficult for some of us not to come up with our own names for the car or its exterior paint or wonder if the vehicle should be offered with a resonator that sounds an awful lot like a whoopee cushion, but the folks at GENeco are serious about their fart-powered Volkswagen "Bio-Bug" Beetle.

As well they should be.

The U.K. sustainable-energy company located in Bristol, England, and owned by Wessex Water is proud of the alt-fuel vehicle they've created that runs on methane gas stirred up during the treatment process at sewage plants.

"Waste flushed down the toilets of just 70 homes in Bristol is enough to power the Bio-Bug for a year, based on an annual mileage of 10,000 miles," said a statement on the Wessex Water website. Well, you know what they say about Bristol residents.

Butt seriously, human-gas-powered automobiles aren't exactly new. There are some 11,500 vehicles tooting around Sweden on biomethane from sewage plants.

As for performance, GENeco says methane gas powers their 2.0-liter Beetle convertible to a gut-wrenching 114 miles an hour, which can be helpful when you've really got to go.

Fine, you say, but all I really want to know is how the Bio-Bug came to be.

"The choice of car was inspired by students who took part in a workshop," GENeco spokesman Mohammed Saddiq said in a statement. "They thought it would be appropriate that the poo-powered car should be the classic VW Beetle Bug because bugs naturally break down waste at sewage works to start the treatment process, which goes on to produce the energy."

The Bio-Bug is undergoing tests. GENeco said it plans to convert its fleet of vehicles if the Bio-Bug trial is successful.

Scott Doggett, Contributing Editor

Scott Doggett:  is an AutoObserver.com Associate Editor.