Whiskey Company Finds Unique Way to Repurpose Waste
Jane Lu
· 3 min read
More and more automakers are investing in
electric cars
as states commit to a zero-emission future. But some are worried that the production process isn’t as green as it could be. The resources needed for battery production might even wipe out a plant
.What other ways are there to fuel vehicles that reduce harm to the environment? The Scotch distiller Glenfiddich is using whiskey to power its delivery trucks, according to
CNET
.
Scotch is good for trucks
So how exactly does this work? CNET reported that "it uses a biogas obtained from the anaerobic digestion of liquid byproducts of the distilling process."
To put it simply, producing whiskey creates a lot of waste and Glenfiddich has come up with a solution for powering vehicles with leftover liquid waste. In the past, whiskey waste has been turned over to farmers as food for livestock.
While
rising fuel costs
, digging for oil, and transportation emissions get a lot of news time, our garbage sites are filling up as well. Recycling helps, but some types of materials can’t be reused. Not yet, anyway. Glenfiddich shows us that gas and electricity aren’t the only options for fuel.How many trucks run on whiskey waste?
So far, Glenfiddich has converted four Iveco trucks that now run on whiskey waste. The trucks were originally designed to run on liquid petroleum gas. Glenfiddich estimates that the vehicles produce approximately 95% less carbon than before.
The Scottish whiskey distiller isn't stopping here and it plans to convert more trucks. This might encourage other companies to create their own methods of converting waste into usable energy.
Other companies are turning to electric vehicles (EVs) in an effort to go green. Recent studies have suggested electric cars do
produce lower emissions
over their lifespan which is great news for environmentally-conscious consumers. Obstacles for switching to electric
Reducing emissions is a necessary step for our battle against climate change. To push companies and consumers to switch to electric, they’ll have to see cost savings and other benefits.
There's a high initial cost for companies to convert their current fleets. But the price of electric cars is becoming cheaper as more automakers decide to enter the market. Lowering the cost of EVs by improving the manufacturing process will help increase adoption.
It's also possible to slowly switch over, which is what many companies are doing. Rather than trying to go fully electric in one swoop, companies are purchasing one or two EVs at a time.
It's clear that this won’t be a swift change. Many states are listed as having 0% of the country’s
used electric vehicle
share in America. California plans to stop selling gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035, but that's still more than a decade away. However, there’s a strong push for electrification, and things are looking up for the green movement.Finding new ways to power vehicles with reduced emissions, like what Glenfiddich has accomplished, will provide more options for consumers.
Sadly, you won’t be able to own a truck that runs on whiskey waste yet. But if you have an electric car,
Jerry
can help you compare customized quotes from 50 insurance providers. The free app can help you find the most affordable insurance for the coverage you need.
