Eco-Adventurer Sets Off For “Rubbish” Expedition Around The World.

Andy Pag (34 London), the eco-adventurer who drove a chocolate powered lorry to Timbuktu using waste cocoa butter and organised the Grease to Greece Rally where teams had to scavenge chip-fat to power their vehicles across Europe, is now setting off to drive around the world on an eco-expedition that can best be described as … Rubbish!

Pag has recycled a scrap yard school bus and turned it into a state of the art eco-home using a mix of reclaimed trash and cutting edge green technology. Not only is the 20 year old “Biotruck” made from rubbish, but it’s been modified so it can run on rubbish too, specifically used cooking oil thrown away by restaurants and caterers.

“By 2050 the experts say we’ll each have to be emitting less than 2 tonnes of CO₂ per year to avoid the worst effects of manmade climate change.” says Pag, “In the UK we currently emit around 10-13tonnes. I’m curious to see what people in other countries are doing about their footprint, and to see if it’s possible to travel around the world emitting less than 2 tonnes myself, by using energy-from-waste and other technology.”

The first fill up comes from Uptown Oils in London who produce fuel from locally collected used cooing oil. When full, the Biotruck has a range of around 5000miles (8000km), but Pag intends to keep the tank topped up during the 12 month journey from chip shops and burger bars along the route through Europe, the Middle East, South East Asia and the Americas, with the help of an on board Zuwa collection pump, Greenfuel tanks and an Oilybits filtering system.

The expedition’s CO₂ is being monitored by consultants Terra-Ambiente, and onboard the Biotruck, every effort has been made to avoid fossil fuels. Cooking is on a woodgas stove, washing is with water heated bythe sun, lighting is by ultra low energy LED bulbs from the Good Energy Shop, sleeping is on an Abaca organic mattress, and the call of nature is answered on a Separett waterless composting toilet.

To get the most of every drop of fuel, Pag has fitted EcoVolt solar panels on the roof which power a Magdrive hydrogen generator, supplementing fuel with Hydrogen gas so that on sunny days the Biotruck will cover more miles per gallon. Total Vehicle Technology have serviced the engine and installed a Clean Diesel Technology Particulate Filter which reduces the exhaust emissions to that of a vehicle 1/10^th its age.

“I’ve no idea how easy it will be to find used cooking oil in places like Iran, India or Brazil but it’s going to be fun finding out. Driving around the world is a massive challenge, and trying to do it using sustainable fuels, with a tight carbon budget makes this the toughest expedition I’ve ever attempted.” confessed Pag a former engineer and journalist who has been organising overland expeditions for 14 years.

Before being waved off from the windmill on Wimbledon Common at 11am on the 12^th of September by well wishers and Wombles, Pag will offer guided tours of the bus to the public. Regular updates will be posted on the expedition website, www.biotruckexpedition.org where followers can track the expedition’s progress.

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Press call and Interviews

Journalists are invited to a press call between at 8am and 10am on the 12^th of September by the Windmill on Wimbledon Common (Windmill road, SW19 5NR), to see the bus and meet Andy Pag as they depart on the round the world expedition.

Please confirm attendance with Andy Pag; T: 0797 494 2796, E: andy@biotruck.co.uk to ensure access to the bus.

Pictures

Pictures for print and for web of Pag and the Biotruck are available at http://twitpic.com/photos/biotruck

Background

· The Stern Review predicts that achieving a global CO₂ footprint of 2 tonnes per person per year will stave off the worst effects of manmade climate change.

· Energy-From-Waste presents a huge opportunity for reducing greenhouse gas emission. Waste cooking oil is usually destined to rot in landfill sites, producing methane, a more potent greenhouse gas than CO₂.

· Running a private vehicle on waste vegetable oil or “home-brew” biodiesel has been legal and tax free in the UK since June 2007.

· Diesel Particulate Filters trap exhaust gases including soot known as “Black Carbon” which as well as causing local pollution is thought to produce a significant greenhouse effect.

Sponsors and Expert contacts;

· Clean Diesel Technology and Total Vehicle Technology, installers and suppliers of Low Emission exhaust gas systems. (Dan Skelton 01883 629090, Wayne Bint 079515 86935)

· EcoVolt, certified installers of PV solar panels (Charley Wander 07831 705 000)

· Good Energy, suppliers of 100% sustainably produced electricity. (Sophy Fearnley-Whittingstall 07979 368238)

· Oilybits, Zuwa and Greenfuels, suppliers and designers of filtration and Biofuel production equipment (Adrian Henson 07748 655 589, Ulli Holzer 0049 170 8061686, and James Hygate 07973 358 808)

· Terra-Ambiente, sustainability consultants.(Daniela Meilmann 07779 235 538)

· Uptown Oils, Producers of Fuel from Waste Oil (Nigel Jewison 07973 286 726)