Traveling the world always sounds like an intriguing idea. What about traveling the world in a salvage school bus that runs purely on french-fry fat? Starting his journey on September 19, 2009 Andy Pag has covered 3,000 miles in part of the Biotruck Expedition. Pag, an environmental activist, is attempting to travel the world while emitting less than two tons of carbon dioxide emissions. One of the downfalls of traveling on a bus fueled by fat is the smell, but what can you expect when you are using rubbish as fuel?
This is in part of the G20 initiative to reduce CO2 emissions from the average levels of 10-15 tons per person to two tons per person by the year 2050. That’s a long way down the road sure, but it is something that has to be considered. Scientists predict that in order to make up for the man made climate change every person on the planet will need to reduce their CO2 emissions to two tons. In order to prove what two tons of carbon means the Biotruck expedition is driving around the world while emitting even less than two tons of CO2. Along the trip there will be an investigation on how people are generating energy and what it is being used for.
Since Pag departed from London in September, the bus has covered over 3,000 miles of land. In that 3,000 mile span the bus has traveled through France, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, the Balkans, Greece, and now in has reached Turkey. Over this time to keep the bus up and running Pag has collected over 500 liters of fat along with used cooking oil to produce biodiesel for the gas tank.
The environmental factors don’t stop there. Not only is the bus fueled by environmental friendly resources, but the bus itself was salvaged to be recycled and reused. It was originally straight from the scrap yard, basically a pile of rubbish. The bus was refurbished by using old tables, carpet offcuts and other random waste materials. The engine was converted to be able to run off of vegetable oil, and there is also a filtering system installed to clean up the used oil found along the way so the bus can be refueled during the journey.
The inside is set up similar to an RV that a family would take camping, just more environment friendly. Inside the bus there is a wood burning stove, low power LED lighting and all electricity is generated from the solar panels that are attached to the roof. All of the furnishings were salvaged and recycled to provide a comforting living condition. On top of that the bus has a waterless, chemical free composting toilet.
The Biotruck Expedition will have to face a more difficult time as it continues its journey. Reaching Istanbul, Pag has a rough road ahead of him as he embarks on to less developed countries. Not only will it be harder to find resources for fuel, but Pag will also have to deal with political insecurities and hazardous weather conditions. Either way Pag and the Biotruck Expedition plans on to continue on with their journey
Tags: Andy Pag, Biotruck Expedition, CO2 emissions, G20 Initiative
