2/7: Hamster car

Undertoad · 02-07-2002, 12:58 PM

This is at some sort of auto show or new technology show, I think in Japan. This car is powered solely by hamsters on wheels. I imagine it stores the power they generate, or amplifies it somehow. But you know someone had to come up with the idea at some point... it was just a matter of time.

And when you think about it, that makes this car the least environmentally-friendly car in the world. Think about it: its fuel isn't hamsters, its fuel is hamster food. Its fuel is seeds, and its waste by-product is hamster shit. You think smog is a problem, wait until you see what it's like when your car leaves little droppings everywhere it goes.

And if you leave the car out overnight in cold climates, its engine goes into hibernation. (Hamsters will drop into hibernation almost automatically if the air temperature falls below about 40 F.) Brings a whole new meaning to "warming up the car".

jeni · 02-07-2002, 01:06 PM

oh. my. god.

this is the silliest thing i've ever seen.

but it's really cute

heh. look at the little hearts on the wheels.

02-07-2002, 01:29 PM

Only in Japan.

For the record, energy can't be "amplified" - i.e., you can't get more out than you put in. No doubt, they're actually losing some energy. But it's still pretty neat, and I'd be curious as to seeing how it actually worked.

That Guy · 02-07-2002, 02:35 PM

Is that a Pikachu on top?

datalas · 02-07-2002, 03:04 PM

Brings new meaning to the phrase "I can't come to work today my hamster died"

Datalas

Torrere · 02-07-2002, 05:02 PM

Wow. It would be so fun to be mocking a person who drove a car like that (or LOOKED like that!)

Joe · 02-08-2002, 11:55 AM

I think the way it has to work is the energy is stored somehow. A hamster on a wheel generates almost no horsepower. You'd have to store the energy by using it to maybe incrementally compress a spring, lift a weight, compress a gas etc in very small amounts etc. You'd have to wait weeks until you had enough energy saved up to push the car...a few feet.

A much better alternative would be to use the hamsters *as* fuel. Hamsters are not in short supply, are not a monoply of OPEC nations, and are easy to catch. Once vaporized at high temperature in a non-oxygenated environment, the resulting gas be cooled and used to fuel a conventional engine. Or the hamsters could be liquified and the resulting sludge cracked for a variety of oil-based fuels which could be used to run turbine engines. You'd need a LOT of hamsters, but you could concievably use hamster-ene instead of jet-A to fly the Concorde across the Atlantic or run a power plant.

garnet · 08-24-2004, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe

A much better alternative would be to use the hamsters *as* fuel. Hamsters are not in short supply, are not a monoply of OPEC nations, and are easy to catch. Once vaporized at high temperature in a non-oxygenated environment, the resulting gas be cooled and used to fuel a conventional engine. Or the hamsters could be liquified and the resulting sludge cracked for a variety of oil-based fuels which could be used to run turbine engines. You'd need a LOT of hamsters, but you could concievably use hamster-ene instead of jet-A to fly the Concorde across the Atlantic or run a power plant.

Oh goodness no.

BigV · 01-18-2008, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by That Guy

Is that a Pikachu--snip.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe

I think the way it has to work is --snip

Here we have a couple of posts from a couple of dwellars who are gone. But they seem to have come back to the cellar, in a different, but recognizable form. Reincarnation? You be the judge.

That Guy --> theotherguy

Joe --> regular.joe

Undertoad · 02-08-2002, 12:19 PM

You're getting a little too close to that "evil mad scientist" archetype, there, Joe....

What about hamster turds for fuel? We could have the schools save them, just stuff the cedar chips into plastic bags and send them off to Washington DC. Volunteers could sort out the turds as part of their 2-year national service program.

The turds could also be formed into little bricks and used by Habitat for Humanity to build houses for the poor. Hence the term, "built like a shit brick house."

Er, or something.

garnet · 08-24-2004, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

The turds could also be formed into little bricks and used by Habitat for Humanity to build houses for the poor. Hence the term, "built like a shit brick house."

I like it! bwaaahahahahahaha!

xoxoxoBruce · 08-24-2004, 04:15 PM

Shouldn't that be Habitrail for Humanity?

Elspode · 08-25-2004, 11:30 PM

Did this thread conjure up for anyone else the immortal 'Hamster Love' on Doctor Demento?

"For breakfast or lunch or while dining
Crunch on their deep fried fur lining
Pop 'em in your mouth with a shove
Tastes like hamster love...."

(To the tune of "Muskrat Love", of course)

jane_says · 08-27-2004, 10:33 AM

I'll take one, pink is fine, but I want Hello Kitty painted on the side.

Shawnee123 · 01-18-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Shouldn't that be Habitrail for Humanity?

OK, you got no credit for that, and that was damn funny! :p

: So, 3 1/2 years later, I applaud you!

02-07-2002, 12:58 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	2/7: Hamster car This is at some sort of auto show or new technology show, I think in Japan. This car is powered solely by hamsters on wheels. I imagine it stores the power they generate, or amplifies it somehow. But you know someone had to come up with the idea at some point... it was just a matter of time. And when you think about it, that makes this car the least environmentally-friendly car in the world. Think about it: its fuel isn't hamsters, its fuel is hamster food. Its fuel is seeds, and its waste by-product is hamster shit. You think smog is a problem, wait until you see what it's like when your car leaves little droppings everywhere it goes. And if you leave the car out overnight in cold climates, its engine goes into hibernation. (Hamsters will drop into hibernation almost automatically if the air temperature falls below about 40 F.) Brings a whole new meaning to "warming up the car".

02-07-2002, 05:02 PM	#6
Torrere a real smartass Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kirkland, WA Posts: 1,121	Wow. It would be so fun to be mocking a person who drove a car like that (or LOOKED like that!) Last edited by Torrere; 02-07-2002 at 06:00 PM.

02-08-2002, 11:55 AM	#7
Joe Master of the Domain Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: AZ Posts: 221	Stored energy I think the way it has to work is the energy is stored somehow. A hamster on a wheel generates almost no horsepower. You'd have to store the energy by using it to maybe incrementally compress a spring, lift a weight, compress a gas etc in very small amounts etc. You'd have to wait weeks until you had enough energy saved up to push the car...a few feet. A much better alternative would be to use the hamsters as fuel. Hamsters are not in short supply, are not a monoply of OPEC nations, and are easy to catch. Once vaporized at high temperature in a non-oxygenated environment, the resulting gas be cooled and used to fuel a conventional engine. Or the hamsters could be liquified and the resulting sludge cracked for a variety of oil-based fuels which could be used to run turbine engines. You'd need a LOT of hamsters, but you could concievably use hamster-ene instead of jet-A to fly the Concorde across the Atlantic or run a power plant.

08-24-2004, 04:15 PM	#12
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Shouldn't that be Habitrail for Humanity? __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

08-25-2004, 11:30 PM	#13
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Did this thread conjure up for anyone else the immortal 'Hamster Love' on Doctor Demento? "For breakfast or lunch or while dining Crunch on their deep fried fur lining Pop 'em in your mouth with a shove Tastes like hamster love...." (To the tune of "Muskrat Love", of course) __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

02-07-2002, 01:06 PM	#2
jeni is stuck on altair-4 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: santa cruz, california Posts: 514	oh. my. god. this is the silliest thing i've ever seen. but it's really cute heh. look at the little hearts on the wheels.

02-07-2002, 01:29 PM	#3
dave Guest Posts: n/a	Only in Japan. For the record, energy can't be "amplified" - i.e., you can't get more out than you put in. No doubt, they're actually losing some energy. But it's still pretty neat, and I'd be curious as to seeing how it actually worked.

02-07-2002, 02:35 PM	#4
That Guy He who reads, sometimes writes. Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: at the keyboard Posts: 791	Is that a Pikachu on top?

02-07-2002, 03:04 PM	#5
datalas Generic Monkey Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Scotland UK Posts: 49	Brings new meaning to the phrase "I can't come to work today my hamster died" Datalas

02-08-2002, 12:19 PM	#10
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	You're getting a little too close to that "evil mad scientist" archetype, there, Joe.... What about hamster turds for fuel? We could have the schools save them, just stuff the cedar chips into plastic bags and send them off to Washington DC. Volunteers could sort out the turds as part of their 2-year national service program. The turds could also be formed into little bricks and used by Habitat for Humanity to build houses for the poor. Hence the term, "built like a shit brick house." Er, or something.

08-27-2004, 10:33 AM	#14
jane_says Colonist Extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: SW VA Posts: 200	I'll take one, pink is fine, but I want Hello Kitty painted on the side.

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