Personal fart power - is it viable?

It's the future and oil resources have run out. A scientist has suggested using personal fart power to meet our individual power needs.

World governments are seriously considering this. They have identified a strain of genetically-modified bean that is easy to grow and results in an incredible degree of flatulence. Additionally they are developing some 'friendly' bacteria that show signs of being able to fartify pretty much every kind of foodstuff. Crucially it doesn't produce smelly farts - just very voluminous and flammable ones.

A study is in progress whereby volunteers are wearing fart-packs strapped to their rear ends whilst driving, and these are connected to their car engines. At the moment the fart gas is being used to supplement the conventional fuel. However the scientists hope eventually to power cars entirely by the farts of the driver and passengers. Other applications are in the pipeline.

How workable is this? How would society react? Bearing in mind that, with the new bacteria, the smell is negligible and also that the equipment is designed not to let the farts escape into the atmosphere, what would be the downsides?

Notes

1. Speculative answers are welcome but ideally I'd like some science or even hard-science as well.

2. This is a separate question from collecting farts from cattle. The whole idea is that you have your own power pack with you at all times and it uses your own emissions.

Addendum It has been pointed out that constant farting whilst not using the resultant gases could be a problem. That is true but it is not insurmountable.

The bacteria is quick acting and very efficient, especially in conjunction with the beans. When planning a long journey, you simply take your day's food supply with you. Then you eat sufficient to last for the next leg of the journey. People will become expert at judging just how much they should eat to get to Aunt Ada's house, flatulence free.

posted almost 9 years ago

chasly from UK‭

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