Poo-powered cars could be coming to a street near you

Granada
Davyhulme
Manchester
Environment
Friday 1 January 2016 at 5:46pm

Sludge-powered cars are being used at United Utilities Davyhulme treatment plant Credit: United Utilities

United Utilities have announced that they have been using sludge-powered cars on their site for the last 6 weeks and they've been extremely energy efficient.

The biogas is used on the Davyhulme site in five combined heat and power engines to generate renewable electricity. In a year, this would power 25,000 homes.

Despite being powered by fuel created from sewage, the car does not smell unpleasant and is powering five electric vehicles which are replacements for diesel vans to help transport staff around the site - United Utilities biggest in the country.

Davyhulme area business manager, Keith Haslett, said:

Davyhulme wastewater treatment works is United Utilities biggest plant and will be energy neutral by 2018, thanks to the electricity generated on site from the biogas produced by the sludge digestion process.

Keith said: