Fuel Tanks Made of Corncob Waste

Roland Piquepaille writes "The National Science Foundation is running a story on how corncob waste can be used to created carbon briquettes with complex nanopores capable of storing natural gas. These methane storage systems may encourage mass-market natural gas cars. In fact, these 'briquettes are the first technology to meet the 180 to 1 storage to volume target set by the U.S. Department of Energy in 2000.' They can lead to flat and compact tanks and have already been installed in a pickup truck used regularly by the Kansas City Office of Environmental Quality. And as the whole natural gas infrastructure exists already, this new technology could be soon adopted by car manufacturers."

Further adaptions

[Shadow Wrought]

Perhaps they could use this technology for the tailpipe, too...

Fine, until...

[gardyloo]

That's all great, until I go out in the morning and find that the damned raccoons have eaten through my gas tank and drunk all my biofuel. Varmints!

Re:Between this and corn-derived ethanol...

[Perseid]

"Hooey, it's hot in here. Hey, bob, what's that popping sound outside?"

"Oh, my God! My car!"

Re:Supply?

[Anonymous Coward]

That would be awesome. If I was getting low on fuel, I could just pull over, pinch out a deuce, and I'd be set until I got to the next gas station.

One small change is needed

[Hoi Polloi]

I hope they also use mesquite in their charcoal. I like my car exhhaust to have that flavor that only mesquite can deliver.

Will the new engines come with a grill?

Re:For those hand-wringing about eco issues

[elrous0]

We could finally get the lights back on in Bartertown!

-Eric