Comments on: So, you're into renewable energy?

So, you're into renewable energy?

Burhanistan — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:23:24 -0800

Heretofore experimental, the Japanese have now marketed a battery that is urine-rechargeable.

By: louche mustachio

louche mustachio — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:29:46 -0800

Can a pee powered car be far behind? That would dramatically change the dynamics of road trips, among other things.

By: hal9k

hal9k — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:32:37 -0800

Some girls from my past have had those. You pee on them and it tells you if its positive or negative charge. Must work because they always seem shocked.

By: IronLizard

IronLizard — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:33:42 -0800

Sure great, but what if they start leaking?

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:35:07 -0800

Excuse me, I have to see a man about my cell phone.

By: porn in the woods

porn in the woods — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:39:54 -0800

Surely they're taking the piss.

By: George_Spiggott

George_Spiggott — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:56:52 -0800

"Now urine charge!"

By: gomichild

gomichild — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:06:30 -0800

piss on!

By: George_Spiggott

George_Spiggott — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:07:12 -0800

Amazing what these whiz kids come up with.

By: Kickstart70

Kickstart70 — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:18:47 -0800

"That would dramatically change the dynamics of road trips" fluid dynamics, you mean?

By: It's Raining Florence Henderson

It's Raining Florence Henderson — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:21:10 -0800

Finally, guys can start tasting like 9 volt batteries, too!

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:25:23 -0800

I'm told it recharges fastest with Hello Kitty pee.

By: Astro Zombie

Astro Zombie — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:36:02 -0800

I pee on my employees to get them working again. That seems to work.

By: brain_drain

brain_drain — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:36:20 -0800

The #1 battery!

By: fleetmouse

fleetmouse — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:39:43 -0800

I understand you can buy DVDs of ladies recharging batteries. This is what I have been told.

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:40:57 -0800

Great. Our grandchildren will think a good prank to pull on someone will be to put gas in the pee tank. The more things change...

By: Blazecock Pileon

Blazecock Pileon — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:41:19 -0800

Shocking!

By: zekinskia

zekinskia — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:46:21 -0800

I'm no scientist, but fshaw. You guys are actually falling for this? From the Reghardware link: "It's rumoured the batteries retain their charge for up to 10 years, but they can be recharged only a limited number of times." Thinking that these things are somehow carrying significantly more potential chemical energy than a traditional battery is, in my opinion, probably about the same as thinking that hydrogen cars can just magically run on water. Water is about the most stable molecule on the planet, no? I.e., it doesn't have much potential chemical energy to release. So whatever energy is released is coming from the "mixture of magnesium and carbon." (Also Reghardware) While it may "retain its charge" for ten years, that charge is . . . wait for it . . . about the same charge as any other battery.

By: Astro Zombie

Astro Zombie — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:48:19 -0800

I just thought of something that else can be recharged with the addition of pee: Your lovelife!

By: stavrogin

stavrogin — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:48:51 -0800

This reminded me of a story in the Weekly World News about Japanese people drinking their urine for health. I believed everything they ever printed.

By: Tube

Tube — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:49:12 -0800

OK, someone has to spoil the fun. The urine is the electrolyte, not the anode or the cathode, and so does not actually "power" the cell. On a related note, Metafilter's own Bill Beaty discussed the limitations of the "lemon battery" here.

By: nicwolff

nicwolff — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 23:45:35 -0800

The Japanese are finally out of beta?

By: StickyCarpet

StickyCarpet — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 06:23:46 -0800

The urine is the electrolyte Yeah, isn't it actually urine activated, not urine powered?

By: Kickstart70

Kickstart70 — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 21:15:10 -0800

Give me a few beers and at the end of the night, damned right my urine will power generators. Fit turbines on guys as they enter bars, and no doubt the disco lights will stay on to the wee hours. (pun intentional)

By: celerystick

celerystick — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 08:42:39 -0800

""Now urine charge!" yeessssss!