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posted by martyb on Sunday May 24 2015, @05:09AM   Printer-friendly
from the passing-interest-in dept.

The UK's premier poo-powered bus, the "Bus Hound," has broken the land speed record for a regular service bus. The bus, which is operated by Reading Buses, hit a confirmed top speed of 76.785 mph (123.5 kph) around the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire.

The bus, which is powered by biomethane derived from cow manure, would usually be limited to 56 mph. Reading Buses performed some "minor tweaks" to allow for the higher top speed (presumably some suspension tweaks and removal of the speed limiter), but otherwise it's a standard bus that would normally putter around the streets of Reading. The bus is painted black and white in a pattern that is reminiscent of the Friesian cows used for milk production in the UK.

"It was an impressive sight as it swept by on the track," Reading Buses' chief engineer John Bickerton told the BBC. "It sounded like a Vulcan bomber—the aerodynamics aren't designed for going 80 mph."

http://arstechnica.co.uk/business/2015/05/british-poo-powered-bus-sets-speed-record/

 
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  • (Score: 2) by rts008 on Sunday May 24 2015, @06:16AM

    by rts008 (3001) on Sunday May 24 2015, @06:16AM (#187089)

    I wonder if California will be the first state to implement Emission Standards and regulations on Bovine Bio-gas Producers(the cows)? The producers are mobile, and hard to track down in some terrain for periodic regulatory testing and inspection, not to mention some of them are not overly cooperative. And if they are fitted with gas collection gear, I imagine the reports of space aliens to jump dramatically.

    I know the article was talking about the UK, but that has never stopped California(and other wacky states) previously enacting wasted laws. Oklahoma enacted laws preventing Sharia laws being used in courts despite the fact there is no significant Muslim population here. WTF? Oh yeah, I forgot ISIL cavalry(mounted on Ebola) was over-running the Texas-Mexico border, and invading a theater near you. As we speak.

    Oh, and Jade Helm, The US is invading the US in Chuck Norris' back yard while ISIL is invading. This sounds like it will be an entertainingly wacky summer in Texas.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 24 2015, @07:15AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 24 2015, @07:15AM (#187102)

    I saw an item the other week that mentioned that the last airworthy example will be grounded by the end of this year.
    2015: Final flying season for last Vulcan bomber [wikipedia.org]
    Announced 2015/05/15.

    -- gewg_