The History of Using Water For Car Fuel
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Heath Allison
By Heath Allison
Published on 05/29/2008
Using water for car fuel is not a new idea, but is one that we have not yet been able to implement with efficiency and convenience. Find out why we haven't switched over to water powered cars yet.
In the 1800s, Amedee Bollee of Le Mans used water for car fuel in his steam-powered automobiles. The cars, however, only reached top speeds of 38 miles per hour. Not very fast, at all!
The basics of a steam fueled engine involved using firewood or coal in a firebox. This heat then heated water stored in a separate boiler resulting in steam. The steam traveled to the pistons where it pushed them, thus making the engine operational. The exhaust was simply cooled steam and didn't hurt the environment.
There were still dangers of using water for car fuel. If a driver didn't have enough water in his or her boiler, it could cause equipment failure. Overheating the water in the boiler could cause ruptures. Escaping steam from pipes or the boiler caused serious burns.
Sadly, Stanley Steamers faded away and gas-fueled automobiles took the world by storm. With the current gas crisis, focus is once again on creating vehicle engines that use water to run.
Can you use water for car fuel? In 2008, Honda revealed plans for a steam-powered hybrid engine. Using heat from the exhaust system, water is boiled and turned into steam that then charges the batteries that the Honda engine will run on.
Is this idea truly going to work? Will water be fueling cars of the future? The answer is yes but it is still an idea that requires additional research.
Current studies show that the Rankine Cycle Co-Generation Unit will work. The problem is that it doesn't give off a lot of power. Current models of this water hybrid engine only bring top speeds of around 62 miles per hour.
For country driving on back roads, this might not be an issue. For highway driving, the water-powered engine would face strain from the consistent higher speed limits.
This does show improvement, however, as past water fueled engines couldn't handle speeds of more than 58 miles per hour. It is still an extremely expensive engine to build.
Due to the expense of creating the steam-based engine and the fact that the car's top speeds are minimal at best, automobile manufacturers are not ready to start using it in engines. Using water for car fuel is still years or decades away from being a reality.
If you are concerned about the rising costs of fuel, you might consider running your vehicle on water and gas to double your mileage. It is surprisingly easy if you know how. For a step by step guide I highly recommend Run Your Car On Water
Photo Credits: 1
Nonetheless, other inventors tried their hands at creating a steam-powered engine. The Stanley Steamer, manufactured by the Stanley Motor Carriage Company, was one of the best-selling water powered cars in the United States. The car was able to handle speeds of up to 127 miles per hour.
The basics of a steam fueled engine involved using firewood or coal in a firebox. This heat then heated water stored in a separate boiler resulting in steam. The steam traveled to the pistons where it pushed them, thus making the engine operational. The exhaust was simply cooled steam and didn't hurt the environment.
There were still dangers of using water for car fuel. If a driver didn't have enough water in his or her boiler, it could cause equipment failure. Overheating the water in the boiler could cause ruptures. Escaping steam from pipes or the boiler caused serious burns.
Sadly, Stanley Steamers faded away and gas-fueled automobiles took the world by storm. With the current gas crisis, focus is once again on creating vehicle engines that use water to run.
Can you use water for car fuel? In 2008, Honda revealed plans for a steam-powered hybrid engine. Using heat from the exhaust system, water is boiled and turned into steam that then charges the batteries that the Honda engine will run on.
Is this idea truly going to work? Will water be fueling cars of the future? The answer is yes but it is still an idea that requires additional research.
Current studies show that the Rankine Cycle Co-Generation Unit will work. The problem is that it doesn't give off a lot of power. Current models of this water hybrid engine only bring top speeds of around 62 miles per hour.
For country driving on back roads, this might not be an issue. For highway driving, the water-powered engine would face strain from the consistent higher speed limits.
This does show improvement, however, as past water fueled engines couldn't handle speeds of more than 58 miles per hour. It is still an extremely expensive engine to build.
Due to the expense of creating the steam-based engine and the fact that the car's top speeds are minimal at best, automobile manufacturers are not ready to start using it in engines. Using water for car fuel is still years or decades away from being a reality.
If you are concerned about the rising costs of fuel, you might consider running your vehicle on water and gas to double your mileage. It is surprisingly easy if you know how. For a step by step guide I highly recommend Run Your Car On Water
Photo Credits: 1