Golf carts could be eco-friendly! A golf cart that runs on methane made from cow dung, has been developed by Japanese firm Yamaha Motor Co.

The firm began testing this cart on a golf course in Katori, Chiba Prefecture. And another firm Osaka Gas Company provided low cost methane for vehicle tests, to promote cow-dung biomass use. And the cart, is on way for commercial production in October 2008.

For methane’s use in vehicles, a methane refining system and a high pressure gas filling system are needed, which are expensive. But Osaka Gas developed activated carbon capable of absorbing methane at low pressure. When added to a gas tank filled with such carbon under pressure of about one magapascal, the tank can hold 30 times its volume of methane.

This eliminates the need of high pressure storage of methane.

Katori has a place known as Biomass Town where people promote cowdung use for local biofuel. The city’s people were looking out for dung-derived methane. When Yamaha Motor found a golf course in the neighbourhood willing to test the fuel, it led to the golf cart’s development.

Via: Japan FS, Inhabitat