Volkswagen Beetle Converted To Run On Methane Headed For The UK Streets
Meet the Bio-Bug, a custom modded Volkswagen Beetle which has been converted to run on biogas -- fuel created from human waste. The process of conversion isn't brand new, but this will be the first automobile fully converted to run on biogas in the United Kingdom without any loss of performance. In fact, the car is so reliable that its makers believe it can "blow away" electric vehicles, and that consumers won't even notice the difference. The Bio-Bug is a regular old 2 liter VW convertible modified to operate on both gasoline and compressed methane gas: once the methane runs out, the car reverts back to running on gasoline. The cars run on so little methane that just one regular sized sewage plant could run a car (or cars) over 95,000,000 miles per year. Developed by GENeco, a sustainable energy company in the UK, the Bio-Bug is going into a trial period, and the company plans on converting its entire fleet if successful.
4 It was the first VW product to use a front transverse engine layout and front-wheel-drive, and it introduced engine water cooling - and by dint, the first heater! 6 As part of a publicity stunt, a Mk1 crossed the entire American continent from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, a distance of 30,514km, in 94 days. 7 The Golf is the second best-selling car of all time, with around 35,000,000 sold to the end of 2016. The best seller? 8 Golf is German for Gulf, and was so named to keep it in the 鈥榯rade winds鈥?car naming theme of the Scirocco, Passat and Bora. 9 The first Golf GTI was an after-hours skunkworks job; a group of engineers at VW鈥檚 Wolfsburg plant gathered to hot up the MkI version of the car. 10 The original tyre selected for the first GTI in 1976 was actually bigger than the standard rubber of the 911 of the day.
11 The Golf is directly related to more than 20 other cars, thanks to the use of the modular MQB chassis. From Audi to Spanish brand SEAT, multiple vehicles use the same MQB platform. 12 In 1974, Volkswagen started selling the Golf in the US, calling it the Rabbit; the Golf name was thought to be too aspirational. 13 The Golf MkII sold between 1983 and 1991, and notched up more than seven million sales worldwide. 14 Volkswagen launched not one, but two Golf GTI Pirelli Editions; one in 1983 and the most recent in 2009, both in Pirelli-inspired yellow paint. 15 The Mk II was the first Golf to score tech like a catalytic converter and anti-lock brakes. 16 Bugatti鈥檚 W12 was dunked in a limited edition Golf (actually it was a Phaeton engine, but whatever). 17 The Golf overtook the Beetle in 2002 for title of world鈥檚 most popular car.
18 In 1988, VW sold 10m Golfs worldwide. 19 The MkIII sold between 1991 and 1997. It introduced tech like front airbags to the model for the first time. 20 VW also introduced the first-ever Golf wagon- or 鈥榚state鈥?in the UK - with the MkIII. 22 VW builds and sells 2000 Golfs a day around the world. 1 was developed in 2006 for dynamic research and testing. 25 The six-cylinder Golf was introduced with the MkIII in 1995, and it continued through to the MkVI before making way for a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo. 26 The Golf is built in five countries, including Germany, Brazil, China and Mexico, and exported to 155 markets. 27 There will be no pure electric Golf; instead, the ID will fulfil the role of VW鈥檚 electric hatchback. 29 At one time, the Golf was the only car in the world to offer electric, hybrid, diesel, petrol and LP gas powertrains, as well as front and all-wheel-drive. 30 A Golf special model was named after American rock band Bon Jovi in 1996 to coincide with the launch of the MkIV model in Europe The Golf Bon Jovi offered a better stereo and sports seats.
