Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Technology
Letters

The cars that run on lots of coffee

Fuel of the future? The first coffee-powered car was driven from London to Manchester in 2010
Fuel of the future? The first coffee-powered car was driven from London to Manchester in 2010. Photograph: Getty Images Photograph: Getty Images

It’s good to see that Cambridge is catching up with County Durham (Recycling waste into BBQ biofuel, 15 February).

Martin Bacon of Teesdale Conservation Volunteers, based in Barnard Castle, produced his first coffee-powered car in 2010 in conjunction with a BBC TV science programme, Bang Goes the Theory. It was driven from London to Manchester to launch a new series.

The next year he built another, which holds Guinness speed records, and in 2013 a third model built for the Co-op to celebrate fair trade broke distance records in exceeding 1,500 miles for a promotional trip.

All ran on coffee grounds converted into pellets.
Phil Hunt
Teesdale Conservation Volunteers, Deepdale, Barnard Castle, County Durham

• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
8 Reasons to Close Your Bedroom Door Before You Sleep Tonight
It feels natural to leave the bedroom door cracked open so you can hear the kids or let the cat wander in. However, that small gap might be the biggest safety oversight you are making every single night. Most of us prioritize comfort and ventilation over structural safety, but the…
Budget and the Bees
Budget and the Bees
Selena Gomez Says She'd Like Four Kids With Benny, Citing 'The Family Stone Dinner' Scene as Inspiration
Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco open up about their family aspirations in a heartfelt conversation on 'Friends Keep Secrets'.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Primatologists Explain Why Punch’s Mother Abandoned Him And Why He’s “Bullied” By Other Monkeys
Primate behavior experts answered the internet’s biggest questions about Punch, from why his mother rejected him to whether he’ll ever find his place in the group.
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
How Angelina Jolie’s (Allegedly) Doing Over A Year After Settling Her Divorce From Brad Pitt
Brangelina's divorce was a long time coming.
Cinemablend
Cinemablend
Selena Gomez emotionally reveals secret Taylor Swift song written about her
Former Disney Channel star also finally confirmed that Swift’s 2020 track ‘Dorothea’ was about her
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Jared Leto Is Everywhere No One Wants Him to Be. Including Depicted as Jesus By Trump Fans
Why is Jesus always painted the same way?
The Mary Sue
The Mary Sue
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play