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Scottish scientists raise their glasses to whiskey-powered car

A new whiskey-based biofuel that can power cars was developed by scientists in Scotland, Sky News reported Tuesday.

Researchers found a formula to make the fuel from whiskey by-products. They combined pot ale — the liquid from copper stills distillery equipment — and the spent grains used to make whiskey, also known as draff, to produce butanol.

The resulting form of alcohol can then be used as fuel to power a vehicle, much like ethanol.

However, the scientists said butanol was superior to ethanol — with 25 percent more energy per unit volume. The biofuel can also be introduced to unmodified engines with any gasoline blend, whereas ethanol can only be blended up to 85 percent and requires engine modification.

With 352 million gallons of pot ale and 206,000 tons of draff produced annually by the malt whiskey industry, there is even potential for the new biofuel to be available at gas stations.

Professor Martin Tangney, director of the Biofuel Research Centre at Edinburgh Napier University, said: “The EU has declared that biofuels should account for 10 percent of total fuel sales by 2020. While some energy companies are growing crops specifically to generate biofuel, we are investigating excess materials such as whiskey by-products to develop them. This is a more environmentally sustainable option and potentially offers new revenue on the back of one of Scotland’s biggest industries.”

The drink-it-then-drive-it research was based on technology once used to manufacture explosives during WWI and WWII.

However, there is no confirmation yet that it will make your car go like a rocket.