It’s a lean green record breaking machine – fueled entirely by Fairtrade coffee!
British inventor Martin Bacon is celebrating a Guinness World Record after setting a new Land Speed Record in a car powered by waste coffee beans.
The eco-boffin achieved speeds of more than 65mph in his bespoke Ford P100 pick-up to secure his place in history.
His world record success at Woodford Aerodrome was part of a special celebration to mark the Co-Operative’s 10th anniversary of Fairtrade coffee.
Bacon fittingly celebrated with Fairtrade champagne moments after making his mark on history – the first of a number of record attempts for the Teesdale engineer.
Thrilled
“We’re thrilled to have taken the speed record for the fastest car of this kind,” Martin said.
“This Coffee Car has been years in the making, although any car can run on gasification.
“In fact, during the Second World War, there were over 100,000 vehicles in the UK that ran on gasification, including cars, buses and delivery vehicles.
“At the beginning of the 20th century, there were over 900,000 vehicles running on gasifiers across the world.’
Bacon’s modified Ford P100 pick-up truck was commissioned by the Co-Operative to celebrate a decade of supplying Fairtrade coffee.
Coffee Car
The car is fuelled by coffee chaff pellets which are produced from the waste in coffee production. They are heated in a charcoal fire on the back of the car.
They break down into carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The gas is then cooled and filtered before hydrogen is combusted to drive the engine.
Bacon’s vehicle is eco-friendly and tests suggest the modified Ford P100 is as clean as the best eco engines on the market.
The record attempt comes just in time for Fairtrade Fortnight 2013 (25 February – 10 March inclusive).
The Coffee Car, nicknamed the “Bean Machine” will embark on a journey around the UK. Stopping at 37 Co-operative food stores on route, Martin will be on hand to explain the workings of the car to school children and science fans nationwide.
The Co-operative Food Chief Executive, Steve Murrells, said: “The Bean Machine’s record and UK tour are a great way to get people talking about Fairtrade and how buying Fairtrade products can make a real difference to the lives of producers, their families and local communities in developing countries.
“We are the UK’s leading seller of Fairtrade products, selling three times the amount expected for a business of our size. We sell Fairtrade products in every one of our 2,800 stores nationwide, making these ethical products accessible and affordable for all.”
This year’s Fairtrade Fortnight – run by the Fairtrade Foundation – is themed around “going further for Fairtrade.” The Coffee Car’s journey around the UK will also make it into the Guinness Book of Record’s for the longest trip by a coffee-powered vehicle.
Eagle-eyed Brits can look out for the coffee-powered Bean Machine on its UK tour, and tweet sightings to @CooperativeFood with the hashtag #BeanMachine for a chance to win a posh coffee machine and some premium Truly Irresistible Fairtrade roast and ground coffee.
Watch World Record Presentation
Learn More
If you are interested in learning more about the Coffee Car click this link.
