Fueling Speed with Coffee: The Fastest Coffee-Powered Truck Sets Guinness World Record
Key Ideas
  • A coffee-powered Ford P100, set a Guinness World Record for top speed at 65.5 mph, challenging the perception of alternative fuels.
  • British inventor Martin Bacon, on behalf of Fairtrade Coffee, converted the truck to run on coffee chaff, a waste byproduct of coffee production.
  • Martin Bacon previously set a record in 2010 with a coffee-powered Volkswagen Scirocco for the longest trip completed by a coffee-powered car.
  • While coffee-fueled vehicles like the Car-puccino are innovative, the practicality and high cost compared to gasoline remain significant challenges.
The British inventor Martin Bacon made waves by setting a Guinness World Record for the top speed achieved by a coffee-powered Ford P100 truck at 65.5 mph. This unconventional achievement challenges traditional perceptions of alternative fuels. The truck, converted to run on coffee chaff, a byproduct of coffee production, showcased the potential of innovative fuel sources. Martin Bacon's journey in coffee-powered vehicles began with a coffee-fueled Volkswagen Scirocco in 2010, setting a Guinness World Record for the longest trip ever completed by a coffee-powered car. His recent accomplishment with the Coffee Car Mark 2 further solidifies his reputation as a pioneer in sustainable transportation. Despite the novelty and creativity of coffee-fueled vehicles like the Car-puccino, practicality remains a significant obstacle. The process of converting coffee chaff into hydrogen for propulsion involves a time-consuming setup, making it less feasible for daily commuting. Additionally, the National Coffee Association Blog estimates a significantly higher cost, up to 50 times, to operate a coffee-powered car compared to a gasoline-powered one. While coffee has historically been used as an alternative fuel source, with Brazil utilizing coffee beans for trains and factory generators, the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of coffee-fueled cars are subject to debate. The history of using coffee as fuel dates back to the early 20th century and continues to capture the imagination of innovators like Martin Bacon. However, the practical challenges and costs associated with coffee-fueled transportation highlight the complexities of integrating unconventional energy sources into mainstream use.
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