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Government Paper Powered Car Debuts at Detroit

The idea of alternative fuel has been pushed to a new level as a car powered by government office wastepaper and waste cardboard is about to be driven on the streets of Washington DC. The impressive demonstration is possible due to global bioinnovation company Novozymes and Maryland-based Fiberight.

“The advanced biofuels showcased here today demonstrate that the enzyme technology is ready for market. What we need now is commercialization and deployment of advanced biofuels in order to help meet our country’s most pressing energy and environment challenges,”
said Adam Monroe, president, Novozymes North America.

During the event, officials and guests will get the chance to drive a Chevrolet HHR powered by E85, a blend of 85 percent biofuel and 15 percent gasoline. Though it might not seem impressive, transforming paper and cardboard into biofuel is not an easy task.

The task could be done thanks to Novozymes, the company that discovered an enzyme cocktail that can now be used to make advanced biofuel from agricultural residues, municipal waste and energy crops. The biofuel used by the car is produced by Fiberight after a sequence of pulping, pre-treatment and wash, enzymes from Novozymes turn the paper and cardboard waste into sugars that are then fermented into biofuel. The technology will also be on display throughout the show.

This technology is very important, as scientists discovered that biofuels can produce a 90 percent CO2 emissions reduction. Last year, thanks to Novozymes’ technologies, CO2 emissions were reduced by approximately 27 million tons – the equivalent of taking 7 million cars off the road.
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