Motorcycle powered by algae oil passes first test

A designer and a biofuels scientist from the Netherlands have teamed up to build a motorcycle powered by algae.

Peter Mooij researches biofuel production with microalgae. The scientist, who completed his PHD in biotechnology at Delft University of Technology in 2016, has developed a method to grow algae for oil production in salt water. Inspired by this, Mooij’s friend Ritsert Mans decided to build a motorcycle powered by the biofuel. He hoped it would raise awareness of the potential of algae.

Mans told Biofuels International that the fact the algae oil could be produced in a natural way, “without genetic manipulation,” was particularly attractive to them. “It is possible to make it in to higher grade fuel (petrol) but that takes some chemical processes we don’t like.”

This interest in the power of nature went beyond fuelling the motorbike, however. Mans built the frames and springs of the bike from wood, used cork for the dampeners, and hemp for reinforcement.

“People don’t know what the world will look like in 30 years in terms of transportation and energy,” said Mans in a video describing their project. “That uncertainty is also beautiful, it’s a whole new adventure. Everyone can develop and build their own ideas and I think it's important to emphasise that adventure.”

“If algae are fat enough you can squish them as though they are little olives,” Mans told Biofuels International. “The oil Peter developed can be a lot cheaper than the oil already available because it is easier to scale (no fresh water needed and naturally evolved algae are a lot "healthier", for the same reason that pedigree dogs have more sickness than normal dogs.”

Mans and Mooij’s algae powered motorcycle has had its first test on a beach in the Netherlands. A video documenting it is available below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDeYq2AhQFs

This article was written by Daryl Worthington, assistant editor for Biofuels International