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Convert your Honda Accord to run on trash

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introConvert your Honda Accord to run on trash

We may not yet have a flux capacitor for time travel, but we do already have the equivalent of "Mr. Fusion", which if cleverly applied, will enable you to run your car on everyday "trash"-- today. This "magical" device is called a gasifier. And what it does is called gasification.

Gasification is the use of heat to tranform solid biomass, or other carbonaceous solids, into a synthetic "natural gas like" flammable fuel. Through gasification, we can convert nearly any solid dry organic matter into a clean burning, carbon neutral, gaseous fuel. Whether starting with wood chips or walnut shells, construction debris or agricultural waste, the end product is a flexible gaseous fuel you can burn in your internal combustion engine, cooking stove, furnace or flamethrower. Or in this case, your DeLorean. Well ok, how about a Honda Accord . . .

Sound impossible?

Did you know that over one million vehicles in Europe ran onboard gasifiers during WWII to make fuel from wood and charcoal, as gasoline and diesel were rationed or otherwise unavailable? Long before there was biodiesel and ethanol, we actually succeeded in a large-scale, alternative fuels redeployment-- and one which curiously used only cellulosic biomass, not the oil and sugar based biofuel sources which famously compete with food.

This redeployment was made possible by the gasification of waste biomass, using simple gasifiers about as complex as a traditional wood stove. These small-scale gasifiers are easily reproduced (and improved) today by DIY enthusiasts using simple hammer and wrench technology.

The goal of this project is to show you how to do it - using tools you can find at Sears!

Here's a video of us driving the finished Honda Accord around West Oakland - and over to Sears in downtown to pick up some more tools! Fire was kept only in the gasifier. And everyone made it home with smiles on their faces.



This is a really big project! We split the project into several Instructables to make it easier to understand.

  • This instructable explains how to retrofit a Honda Accord (or nearly any car) with our Open Source Gasifier Experimenter's Kit (GEK) to power it. In this project we cover modifications to the standard GEK Gasifier that are needed, details specific to its installation into the Honda, and modifications to the Honda itself. All standard GEK Gasifier construction and operation details are covered in the sub-projects below.
  • Check the Building the GEK Instructable to learn how to fabricate the standard GEK gasifier vessels.
  • Check the Assembling the GEK Instructable to learn how to assemble the GEK vessels into a working GEK Gasifier
  • Check the Running the GEK Instructable to learn how to start and operate the GEK to produce syngas.
  • For more info and extra pictures about this project, see the main GEK site at: http://www.allpowerlabs.org/gasification/gek/index.html
  • For general information on how gasification works, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasification
  • To learn about ALL Power Labs, the group that created the Trash Powered Honda and the Open Source Gasifier Experimenter's Kit, check our website: ALL Power Labs
  • Inspired? Check out our No Petroleum Allowed Road Rally, the Escape From Berkeley.
Convert your Honda Accord to run on trash
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step 1The Goal: Honda + Gasifier

We developed the open source Gasifier Experimenter's Kit as a flexible-fuel biomass processor to produce a gaseous fuel (syngas). The syngas produced by our GEK can be use…


step 2Tools and Parts

The vehicle was built at the ALL Power Labs shop. We've got a lot of fun tools, but you could build this project with just power tools you'd find at Sears. I'll note what…


step 3Safety

There are a lot of potential dangers with this project.We recommend you always have a responsible adult present when building your Trash Powered Honda.Cars are big! Heavy!…


step 4History, Theory and Overview

The GEK gasifier design is based on a nozzle and constriction (Imbert type) downdraft reactor. This was the typical gasifier reactor type of WWII, and still the usual star…


step 5Different ways to make the GEK

The GEK building scenario let's you decide the relative amount of "effort vs cost" you want to invest towards your finished unit. The basic vessel dimensions are based on c…


step 6Fabricating the basic GEK

The standard GEK gasifier system consists of the following seven components. For the Honda GEK we made a few slight changes to the standard GEK design which are noted belo…


step 7Assembling the GEK and preparing for fire

With basic GEK welding complete, now we can assemble and prepare for fire. No Honda is required for this. When you are finished assembling your basic (or modified) GEK, …


step 8Proof of concept testing: first fire

With the GEK now together, we hooked it up to a prototype of our electronic Reactor Control Unit (described later) and ran the output to a 2kw 4-stroke generator. This was…


step 9Prep the Honda Trunk Mount

The trunk of the Honda seemed like a good spot to put the GEK! 1) Cut out the trunk floor along the inside of the frame struts 2) Remove the trunk hatch 3) Fabricate 2 h…


step 10Fabricate a frame for the gasifier

When we started out, we were going to get a bit fancy and have a hopper alongside the GEK to hold the fuel. This would be great because the GEK heat would help dry the fue…


step 11Install the cyclone

We started with the standard GEK cyclone, and fitted it into the hopper/box as well. In the photos here we also dropped the box into the car. Actually to be more accurate…


step 12Install the grate, jigglerator, and dump ports

- At the bottom of the GEK cowling is the standard GEK ash grate for holding up the fuel in the gas producing reduction zone, and allowing ash to filter out the catch basin…


step 13Air Intake With Butterfly Valve

The syngas and air are both going into the Honda engine via the original air intake. That means the Honda engine can no longer control its own fuel/air mix. We built a n…


step 14Syngas Piping from gasifier in back to engine in front

- Chop off the end of the air intake tube from the Honda - Add a coupler and tee - The syngas is routed to the back of the car - using flexible tubes in front and in the …


step 15Solid Fuel Auger - Not Used In Current Design

Originally we wanted to have the hopper alongside the GEK reactor to hold the biomass fuel. It had the advantage of a more compact form factor, plus the GEK heat could hel…


step 16GEK Reactor Modifications and Instrumentation

We made a few changes to the basic GEK reactor design: - Increased the size of the reduction bell, this increases power output compared to the standard GEK design, which w…


step 17Reactor Control Unit (RCU) - aka "THE BRAIN 2"

Any modern car has an Electronic Control Unit, or ECU, which monitors and controls the engine function and keeps everything working. It is often called the Brain of the ca…


step 18Cockpit

The air/fuel mix knob and manual/auto switch are just next to the wheel for the driver. The Copilot can watch all the sensors via the laptop display, and make changes to a…


step 19Final GEK reassembly for Honda

- Install reactor into cowling (standard GEK method with sealing tape) - Add perlite between GEK inner and outer cowlings (standard) - Bolt on the gas filtration unit (st…


step 20Blow-off and output syngas valves

When starting up the GEK reactor its convenient to be able to get it going without having the Honda engine running. We put a tee on the GEK syngas output so we can send it…


step 21Load Solid Fuel and Ignition!

Hey man, can i borrow your shoes? No? Well, how about some wood chips? Or those peanut shells you are throwing everywhere?


step 22Ready!


step 23GO! 88MPH here we come . . .

Here's a video of us driving the finished Honda Accord around West Oakland. No shots were fired. Fire was kept only in the gasifier. And everyone made it home with smile…


step 24Assembly with auger - Not used in current design

We tested the auger-based design once, here are the fully assembled photos. These include an optional system to eject the co-pilot out the sunroof, through a feed tube and…


step 25More Information

SummaryThis instructable explains how to retrofit a Honda Accord (or nearly any car) with our Open Source Gasifier Experimenter's Kit (GEK) to power it. In this project we…


152 comments
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Oct 22, 2009. 1:55 AMLokisgodhi says:
Seems to me that this might be good for off the grid living. You can use the motor to generate electricity, the heat from the engine for heating water for both heating the house and for potable water for bathing and consumption.

How much fuel does burn per hour to run it? 
Sep 25, 2009. 5:41 PMyour dog says:
This was done on The Colony, a discovery channel tv show. they powered a truck, car, and generator.
Oct 17, 2009. 7:28 PMslimguy379 says:
my thoughts exactly, i think that was one of the best shows discovery has put on since monster garage and junk wars lol

Oct 9, 2009. 8:49 AMArvindTheNinja says:
this is pretty cool


Apr 24, 2009. 8:58 PMluvit says:
i rode in one of these. we traveled to 1972, and then went traveled to 2013. you will never guess who will be president.
Oct 9, 2009. 8:15 AMGray-Fox says:
Lmfao nice :P

Oct 5, 2009. 6:27 AMnatethegreat88 says:
Ron Paul!
May 18, 2009. 8:58 AMsambb says:
Arnie?
Jun 12, 2009. 5:03 PMjmeister15 says:
LOL
Oct 5, 2009. 12:23 PMrosstheexplodingone says:
wow i want one ! ...
i guess thats why u put instructions on it!
Sep 27, 2009. 5:06 PMla8ers24 says:
great way to go green

Aug 27, 2009. 9:29 AMXenonJohn says:
Thne other way is to make your gas at home and then store it in a huge bag on the roof of your car. You will look silly though!

I think they did it this way in WW2 as well, or maybe had the gasifier on board to just make some more when the bag emptied.
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Sep 4, 2009. 8:30 PMguitarman63mm says:
Sorry to burst your bubble, but I highly, highly doubt that is a pressurized canvas container. Looks like a rooftop carrier for someone who's moving.
Sep 7, 2009. 10:14 AMBytePilot says:
No need to apologise, consider the chap's bubbled unburst.
Mainly beacsue that is indeed a gas container. It's rubberised canvas and the pressure is no more than a gnat's chuff above atmospheric, but this kind of storage was a common sight during petrol rationing.

http://green.autoblog.com/2007/10/16/exciting-new-fuel-for-1940-coal-gas/

Sep 1, 2009. 5:39 PMragdollman says:
Can I go back to future in it? Or have you not gotten that far yet?
lol
Great build man!
Aug 23, 2009. 1:20 PMk_man93 says:
they used this idea on that show... err, the compound? something about surviving in a post apocalyptic world
Aug 15, 2009. 2:22 AMxc1024 says:
Fit this:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Flux-Capacitor/

inside. If anyone who watched BTTF takes a look inside, you can snap a photo of the priceless face expression.

Seriously now, what you need is a unique name for your project, something that will make it identifiable. That could possibly push other people a bit further towards gasification research as the project could be more widely known and advertised.

BTW, what speed does it reach? Just curious.

Aug 8, 2009. 11:08 AMNicepolicy16 says:
It would be less noticeable on the back of a pick up truck or inside a van. Although you said that 1 million people used it in World war 2, it is not a well known technology . People only know about using this fuel for steam engines to produce heat rather than extracting gas from the fuel to run motors .
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Aug 1, 2009. 11:26 PMKevinEdgar says:
"No shots fired."

LOL!!!!
Jul 26, 2009. 6:25 PM15krypto says:
2 quick questions

1. can you see out of your rear view mirror?
2. does anyone pop open their window and ask, "Um. What is that?"
Feb 20, 2009. 1:58 PMmacrumpton says:
It seems to me that one way to increase your miles/cord would be to make it a hybrid with an electric powertrain (so you can do regenerative braking ). I suspect you could cut the size of the unit to 1/3 its current size and use it to power a small generator that runs continuously charging a prius sized battery. At rest the battery is just charging. While accelerating the car takes power from the generator and battery and while running at cruising speed the generator is supplying most or all of the power. When braking both the generator and the brakes are feeding power into the battery.

This scheme would add some cost, but it would make the car look almost normal and the car could have a short all electric range if you did not want to start up the fire.
Jul 19, 2009. 12:09 AMcharlieb000 says:
another way is to make your car more aerodynamic, it increases your distance much, look up the aerocivic! http://ecomodder.com/blog/2008/02/07/crazy-ecomodder-gets-95-mpg-in-a-1992-civic/

Feb 23, 2009. 6:05 AMbigredlevy says:
although i am optimistic about the future of hybrid cars, i am doubtful that the prius has any real value as an environmentally friendly form of transport.
i reckon that the power regenerated through braking would be lost in the much greater weight of the car because of the larger powertrain. a 'plug in' hybrid would of course be much better, with greater use of batteries for most trips.

this gasification is an incredibly interesting concept, very innovative, although it is probably not saving the planet, haha.
i think the problem lies in the use of the internal combustion engine. external combustion is much more controllable and MUCH cleaner.

i wonder if you could fit a flash steam boiler, connected to a tesla turbine in a honda accord? hehe
Feb 24, 2009. 5:18 AMmacrumpton says:
I don't quite understand your denigration of the Prius. There is no question that it is more fuel efficient than an equivalent sized ICE only car, and that is almost all due to it's regenerative braking (and using the electric motor to help accelerate). It's only big fault is that it is hard to save enough money on gas to recoup the additional cost.

On the other hand I don't think a plug-in hybrid makes much sense in this application because the size and weight of the required battery along with the gasifier would leave little room for the driver/passengers, not to mention the huge cost of the battery which is the big problem with plug-in hybrids.

Re the gasifier saving the planet: http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/007427.html

Apr 17, 2009. 10:08 PMzippydaspinhead says:
It has been proven that the emisions from hybrids, even if the entire world converted overnight, would not stop the problems associated with any gas vehicle, such as greenhouse gasses. The problem lies in gas, when combusted it causes pollution. The only real solution that causes the least envioromental impact would be a plug in fully electric charged car charged via solar and or wind. Otherwise somewhere in the process something is burned and thus some pollution occurs.
Apr 16, 2009. 5:05 AMBludbunny says:
My biggest concern about hybrids is all the left over batteries, and the production of the batteries causing "alternative" environmental issues later on. While I know it is very early years, I don't really agree that we should all feel compelled to buy one. I believe in the future of alternative fuels probably more than electric hybrids, and think that this will be a more viable alternative to burning up 'dead dinosaurs' to get around.
May 14, 2009. 6:16 PMpurplemonkeydishwasher says:
could you burn plastics and stuff like that. if so, this car could solve all of north america's litter problems.
Jul 19, 2009. 12:02 AMcharlieb000 says:
should be able to but not ones that emit toxic fumes like PVC but others should be fine... some people dont have garbage disposal services so they burn it in a furnace out back. most plastics are carbon and oxygen.
Jun 25, 2009. 2:56 PMBartboy says:
Hahaha... I doubt very many people will actually follow this instructable.....

You might even call it a dark matter engine.

:P

Jun 17, 2009. 1:48 PMwelder guy says:
i 'gasify' (singular of gasification) every time i fart to then??

i'm not trying to be gross or dumb or anythiing like that but isn't that what haooens when you far?
Apr 11, 2009. 3:46 AMnatethegreat88 says:
It would be cool if you used cow chips.
Jun 12, 2009. 5:11 PMjmeister15 says:
I made a design for that when i was 7 before i knew gasification existed, but it used the exact same consept. it was a tractor for cattle farmers, but when i was about 8 i designed a car
Jun 9, 2009. 12:52 PMBardouv says:
Add this to a garbage truck instead of a Honda and you would have the never-ending garbage pickup.
May 22, 2009. 12:03 PMrookie1 says:
Very cool. I live in Wisconsin, anyone know what sort of paperwork you'd have to go through to get this documented as road worthy? Believe me, Wisconsin is not user friendly. Very good instructable.
May 9, 2009. 12:33 PMfatboy106 says:
what is the range of this vehicle ?
May 7, 2009. 10:53 AMzwheel says:
Does it have to be onboard? How hard would it be to tank the syngas? The gassifier could be stationary in a back corner of the back yard somewhere and you could still have a trunk, see behind you and a normal looking car.

Or is it too unsafe to store? Or too hard/expensive to compress?
Apr 30, 2009. 12:26 AMkrampus says:
wow! that is one good alternative solution for waste..
maybe that is the car of tomorrow.
Apr 17, 2009. 4:49 PMyourmom003 says:
three questions:

first, about how long did it take to build (non manufacturing style, just one)?

second, does it really matter what shape it is or could you fit it into the trunk any better by form fiting it?

and finally, about howmany miles per, i dont know, a five gallon bucket (or your standard load) before you need to refill?

i want to make one of these eventually so i'm just wondering, thanks!

Apr 11, 2009. 5:09 PMBen The Builder says:
Congrats on getting this in Popsci magazine, a real accomplishment!
Apr 3, 2009. 6:38 PMrwolfe54751 says:
how much did it cost, if i didn't owe anything on my car i'd consider doing the same, can that be done to any car? have an old car that could be a possibility, get back to me on that...i think biodiesel would be the way i think.
Mar 28, 2009. 6:59 PMFlamingking says:
I don't see any people here who would try this lol!If it breaks my car,I will be mad!
Mar 14, 2009. 7:02 PMlukkbox says:
very cool you guys

however

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/07/08/hydroman.ART_ART_07-08-07_A1_4V77MOK.html

kinda puts things in perspective

Mar 3, 2009. 12:30 PMemdarcher says:
cool!!!!!!!!
Feb 28, 2009. 4:19 PMElectrix says:
Hey, nice ible' ! How much would it cost for parts to build the gasifier.
Jan 15, 2009. 1:58 PMewilhelm says:
I've got a Prius ready to go head-to-head on emissions! Do you have a friend at a test shop?
Feb 20, 2009. 1:45 PMmacrumpton says:
How many miles per cord of wood do you get?
Feb 16, 2009. 2:27 PMDanish M1Garand says:
If emissions testing were needed for your license plates all you would have to do is enable the fuel injectors as this car is dual fuel and get it tested.

The Yugoslav army used these on Mack Trucks they bought in anticipation of the Second World War. They knew that Oil would be cut off if and when the Germans invaded. When coming to a hill they would add more fuel in advance rather like a steam train.

Even if it is dirtier than the Prius at the tailpipe it's total pollution foot print is smaller. Nickel ore mined in Canada is sent to France to be refined, then to China to be made into a sponge, then off to Japan for the battery. Car containing the battery shipped to the USA to buy. 24K miles in a boat before driving it's first mile. Seagoing vessels burn bunker fuel that is the worst possible motor fuel pollution wise. The pollution footprint is already quite large before the Fossil Fueled Prius ever started. Holistically a Prius is much dirtier than a Western Hemisphere sourced VW Diesel, a Prius is on a par with an H2 for the first 100k miles.

Do not measure emissions at only the tail pipe, measure it holistically. I see those ZENN cars with all sort of smug bumper stickers about how it is a no emission vehicle. Those cars are COAL FIRED in the USA, just not at the tail of the car.

This car burns industrial waste that is NOT fossil based. Wood chips can be gotten from a tree service for free.

While wood gasification may not be the solution to the Oil Addiction we suffer from it has it's place.

Thanks for a great instructable.
Jan 15, 2009. 4:23 PMjimmason (author) says:

hi eric. sure. but why don't we make this a little more interesting. and a little more consequential . . .

i bet you the pink slip to our hack mr fusion honda accord against the pink slip for your off the shelf consumer solution toyota prius over the outcome of our emissions test.

you win, you get our honda and all our "lovely" engineering work. we win, and we get your prius. seems fair, eh?

here are the proposed rules.

1. first, we ignore co2, as we win that by default, as our fuel is biomass. you can't compete there

2. we handle co and unburned hydrocarbons a one category. sometimes they are separate in a smog machine. but for simplicity, let's consider them as one. all come from incomplete combustion of hc molecules.

3. nox is separate of unburned hydrocarbons. it is a separate problem, and the machines will measure it separately.

4. i don't know how to meaningfully average hc and nox impact for a combined total, so let's say to win the bet, an entrant has to be better on both of the above.

5. the tests are performed at equal engine loads. as we cannot meaningfully compare the drivetrains of the two vehicles, let's just compare them at equal rpm in neutral. i propose 2,500rpm. about typical cruise for a 4cyl.

right by us on san pablo in berkeley is full of smog stations. i'm sure we can find one that will indulge us and our wager.

but first, we need to have a wager. eric?

jim

Feb 5, 2009. 7:55 AMmrjack says:
Is there any way to get the Prius' gas motor to rev at all in neutral? or for that matter the electric which you would definitely lose.

Sorry to be a party pooper, Congrats on the awesome project! I'm out of work right now, this would be awesome for my pressure washer and riding mower!

Thanks for the inspiration.
Jack
Jan 19, 2009. 4:53 PMewilhelm says:
Ha! Since I was actually hoping you'd win, I don't think I want to put much on the line.
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