Coffee-powered car beats speed record for vehicle run on organic waste

A car fuelled by used coffee grounds beat the Guinness World Record earlier this month for speed, renewing interest in coffee grounds as a viable biofuel.  The attempt, which took place on 14 September, was aired on the BBC series Bang Goes the Theory. The team worked to beat a record previously set by Beaver Energy's Wood Powered Car, set in September 2010 at 47.74 mph. The Coffee Car reached a speed of 66.5MPH, the fastest speed ever recorded by a vehicle fuelled by solid organic material.  Engineer Martin Bacon from Teesdale Conservation Volunteers in the UK built the first Coffee Car Mark 1 in 2010 from a modified 1988 Volkswagon Sirocco. The original test at this time last year saw the car drive from the BBC studios in London to Manchester, despite a few traffic delays. Coffee Car Mark 2 was built this year to break the world land speed record. The main differences between the two cars is that the cooling system is contained within the converted Rover SD1 to improve aerodynamics, and the engine is built for speed.  Recently, coffee is being touted as an attractive biofuel alternative, as its biowaste is available in abundance. For more information, see an article from the latest Global Coffee Review,<< Coffee: The Fuel of the Future >>