Have they thought this all the way through?

I notice with some concern that scientists are studying tobacco as a possible biofuel source.

According to Vyacheslav Andrianov, assistant professor of Cancer Biology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, tobacco can generate biofuel more efficiently than other agricultural crops. However, most of the oil is typically found in the seeds: Tobacco seeds are composed of about 40 percent oil per dry weight.

Although the seed oil has been tested for use as fuel for diesel engines, tobacco plants yield a modest amount of seeds, at only about 1,325 pounds of seeds per acre. Andrianov and his colleagues sought to find ways to engineer tobacco plants, so that their leaves expressed the oil.

"Tobacco is very attractive as a biofuel because the idea is to use plants that aren't used in food production," Andrianov said. "We have found ways to genetically engineer the plants so that their leaves express more oil. In some instances, the modified plants produced 20-fold more oil in the leaves."

There's more at the link.

Just one problem, guys. How do you prevent the exhaust fumes from containing nicotine and all the other carcinogens, pollutants and nasty things over which legions of lawyers have been suing tobacco companies for decades? Do you attach a giant-size filter tip to the exhaust, instead of a catalytic converter?

I foresee desperate smokers chasing after cars, trying to inhale their exhaust fumes to get a 'high' when their cigarettes are finally outlawed! This could be fun . . .

Peter