Prince Charles’ Climate Friendly Automobile Runs on Fine Wine and Cheese

Guest essay by Eric Worrall

h/t fretslider; Prince Charles has triggered global ridicule, after revealing his climate sacrifices include converting his antique Aston Martin to run on fine wine and cheese byproducts.

Prince Charles: I understand climate activists’ anger

By Justin Rowlatt
BBC News climate editor

The Prince of Wales has told the BBC he understands why campaigners from organisations like Extinction Rebellion take to the streets to demand action on climate change.

In the interview at his home in Balmoral, Prince Charles said action such as blocking roads “isn’t helpful”.

But he said he totally understood the “frustration” climate campaigners felt.

And he warned of a “catastrophic” impact if more ambitious action isn’t taken on climate change.

Car powered by cheese and wine 

He was also challenged on his long-standing love of cars, and asked if he was “a bit of a Jeremy Clarkson, a bit of a petrol-head?”

“Well, yes”, the prince acknowledged: “But that was before we knew what the problems were.”   

He said he had converted his favourite vehicle, an Aston Martin he has owned for 51 years, to run on what he described as “surplus English white wine and whey from the cheese process”.

His Aston Martin has been modified to run on a fuel called E85 – made up of 85% bioethanol and 15% unleaded petrol.

Bioethanol can be derived from different sources – including in the case of the prince’s car – surplus wine and alcohol extracted from fermented whey.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58847456

The cost of the Aston Martin conversion must have been astronomical. The big problem with putting ethanol fuels into old automobiles is ethanol is a really good solvent. So if you put ethanol in an automobile which is not designed for ethanol, the fuel lines and plastic or rubber components of the engine start to dissolve. So Prince Charles’ mechanic must have completely stripped the engine, identified components likely to be affected by ethanol, and had replacement components hand made out of materials which are not affected by ethanol.

I wish I was wealthy enough to make those kinds of climate sacrifices.

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Ed Zuiderwijk
October 13, 2021 3:41 am

May we know what this ‘surplus’ wine is. It must be undrinkable stuff; could it be British? If so one wonders what the British winemakers think of such labeling of their product. Alternatively, it could be imported plonk which the British were so daft to buy.

fretslider
Reply to  Ed Zuiderwijk
October 13, 2021 4:35 am

 It must be undrinkable stuff; could it be British? “

Not in these post-devolution days, no.

he described as “surplus English white wine “

Which just goes to show that the elites often have too much stuff, but they still need more.

Reply to  Ed Zuiderwijk
October 13, 2021 7:41 am

Keep in mind the speaker…

Surplus wine is likely the dregs of Charles’ bottle of white wine from breakfast, lunch, supper or picnic where the remaining wine gets poured into the tank.

Along with the rind of whatever cheese was getting washed down Charles’ throat. One gets suspicious what happens to caviar leftovers.

Later, Charles’ mechanics empty and clean the fuel system… “Carbon on the valves“.

October 13, 2021 4:50 am

Nincompoop?

Trying to Play Nice
October 13, 2021 5:36 am

So Prince Charles’ mechanic must have completely stripped the engine, identified components likely to be affected by ethanol, and had replacement components hand made out of materials which are not affected by ethanol.

Or, more likely, his car will be having some major problems soon. What an idiot. What a sacrifice.

October 13, 2021 6:07 am

Why post this chatty junk?

Vanessa
October 13, 2021 6:18 am

The measurable brain power of our “elite” !!!!! Ho,ho,ho,ho,ho !!!!!!

ResourceGuy
October 13, 2021 6:22 am

Next time use turbo chargers with caviar.

Rob
October 13, 2021 7:09 am

Unless he makes his E85 himself, it will not be coming from wine and cheese, but from corn (in the US) and wheat (in Europe). The ethanol used for fuel has to be very clean to be able to be used in engines and you can’t get that from “traditional” fermentation sources without a lot of purification. The same way that you “can” make biodiesel from used cooking oil, but nobody will sell you that as it will destroy your engine pretty quickly. Use nice clean canola oil as a starting material and you can fly jets with it (but only for virtue-signaling).

Anthony Banton
October 13, 2021 7:26 am

Prince Charles has triggered global ridicule, after revealing his climate sacrifices include converting his antique Aston Martin to run on fine wine and cheese byproducts.”

Just where is this “global ridicule” exactly?
Not counting contrarian journalism/blogs.
Which is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

He didn’t say “fine” wine either – he said “ “My old Aston Martin, which I’ve had for 51 years, runs on – can you believe this – surplus English white wine, and whey from the cheese process.””

Mr.
Reply to  Anthony Banton
October 13, 2021 9:52 am

Petty pedantry aside Anthony, is it your contention that ridicule is not warranted for Charles’ irrational obsession with climate masochism?

observa
October 13, 2021 8:01 am

He forgot what goes with wine and cheese. Crackers!

Mr.
Reply to  observa
October 13, 2021 9:54 am

Isn’t that term racist now?

(and if not, why not, if we are to apply consistent standards)

Richard Page
Reply to  Mr.
October 14, 2021 3:41 am

I think it’s only an American racist term, never heard it anywhere else. Not even sure what the hell it means.

October 13, 2021 8:23 am

One day perhaps the Prince can be recycled as bioethanol and live his dream. It would be the one productive thing he does with his life.

OK S.
October 13, 2021 10:58 am

Alas, Fergus has died. Maybe the British should crown Muick king. Of all the royal family, he’s the last best hope for the survival of the United Kingdom. And maybe for European civila[s]ion.

Bruce Cobb
October 13, 2021 1:05 pm

What, no crackers? Oh wait, he’s crackers. Never mind.

michael hart
October 13, 2021 2:01 pm

Prince Charles: I understand climate activists’ anger.

“Yesss. I can feel your anger. Let the hate flow through you…”

Sparko
October 13, 2021 3:28 pm

Reading through the history of the monarchy, it’s notable just how often the title skips a generation, and how often sanity does as well. The Hanovers where a classic example

Richard Page
Reply to  Sparko
October 14, 2021 3:48 am

Of course. Why else do you think Charles has been allowed to shoot his mouth off whilst William and Kate are keeping quiet and taking over royal duties? Charles will abdicate – the Queen has fixed it; there would have been far too much trouble constitutionally over his marriages otherwise.

MR166
October 16, 2021 4:59 pm

“surplus English white wine and whey from the cheese process”. I could not think of a more wasteful/expensive process to obtain ethanol than using “surplus English white wine”. He is really quite the Bozo. It will be the end of the monarchy if he is ever made king.