Regan Brown
The idea of a water-fuelled car is an appealing one, especially as the world faces sustainability issues and the automobile industry seeks alternatives to electric and fossil fuel vehicles. While water-fuelled cars have been the subject of international patents, articles, and news coverage, the concept is not without its challenges and controversies. Some inventors, like Stanley Meyer, have claimed to have created water-fuelled cars, but their inventions were later deemed fraudulent. The laws of thermodynamics state that the amount of energy extracted from water is equal to the amount of energy used to break it down, making a self-sustaining system impossible without energy loss. However, hydrogen, a constituent element of water, has shown promise as a propulsion system, and hydrogen fuel cells are already used in some commercial and private vehicles. While hydrogen fuel cells reduce dependency on fossil fuels and lower carbon footprints, they face challenges due to the high cost and infeasibility of hydrogen production.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Possibility of water-fuelled cars | Theoretically possible, but practically improbable |
| Examples | Stanley Meyer's "Water Fuel Cell", Indonesian inventor Aryanto Misel's "Nikuba", Genepax's prototype, Hydrogen on Demand vehicles |
| Process | Electrolysis of water to separate it into hydrogen and oxygen, which are then burned to generate energy |
| Energy efficiency | The energy obtained from hydrogen cannot fully be used to electrolyze water again because some of it is used to power the car, resulting in a net loss of energy |
| Hydrogen production methods | Electrolysis of water, heat-based processes such as pyrolysis of organic material, steam methane reforming, reaction of methane with steam |
| Hydrogen storage | Hydrogen can be pumped into special carbon fibre tanks in the vehicle |
| Hydrogen usage | Hydrogen can be used to run vehicles, but the cost of production is currently greater than that of gasoline or batteries |
| Hydrogen refuelling stations | Except in California, there are too few hydrogen refuelling stations to make hydrogen-powered cars practical |
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What You'll Learn
Hydrogen-powered vehicles
While there are no cars that run exclusively on water, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) are powered by hydrogen, which can be produced from water through a process called electrolysis. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles use an electric motor, powered by a fuel-cell stack, to turn their wheels. In this system, hydrogen passes through a membrane to combine with oxygen from the air, producing electricity and water vapour.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are a type of zero-emission vehicle, with the only by-product of their fuel system being water. They are distinct from electric vehicles (EVs), which rely on large, heavy batteries to power their electric motors. HFCVs are refuelled at hydrogen fuelling stations, in a process similar to refuelling a car at a gas station.
The Toyota Mirai is an example of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. It has been rigorously tested and proven to meet Global Technical Regulation No. 13. The Mirai has an estimated driving range of up to 402 miles when fully fuelled with hydrogen. Toyota describes the Mirai as a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), which uses a fuel cell to generate electricity from hydrogen and oxygen, producing zero emissions.
As of mid-2022, there were 17,000 or fewer hydrogen-powered vehicles on US roads, all located in California, the only state with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations. Since 2015, three hydrogen-powered cars have been offered for sale: the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, the Hyundai Nexo SUV, and the Toyota Mirai. However, Honda has ended production of the Clarity, and Hyundai has sold only about 1,600 Nexo SUVs in six years. Toyota, the company most devoted to hydrogen power, has sold roughly 14,300 Mirai sedans across two generations in the US.
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Water-fuelled car hoaxes
Water-fuelled cars have been the subject of many international patents, news articles, and magazine features. However, these vehicles have been deemed pseudoscience, and some have been linked to investment frauds.
One of the most famous water-fuelled car hoaxes was perpetrated by Stanley Allen Meyer, who claimed that his "Water Fuel Cell" could use water as fuel instead of gasoline. He stated that only 83 litres of water were required for a car to travel from Los Angeles to New York. However, when Meyer's invention was examined by experts, it was found to be fraudulent, and he was sued by investors in 1996.
Another water-fuelled car hoax was perpetrated by Guido Franch in the 1970s. Franch claimed to have developed a cheap green powder that, when added to water, transformed it into gasoline. However, he never demonstrated his powder under scientifically controlled conditions, and his credibility was damaged when he claimed that the secret of the powder had been given to him by aliens from Neptune.
More recently, in 2022, Indonesian inventor Aryanto Misel claimed that his invention, Nikuba, could convert water into hydrogen fuel for motorcycles. He stated that only one litre of water was needed for a distance of 500 kilometres. However, Indonesian scientists stated that the device was theoretically impossible and that there was no interest from the automobile manufacturers mentioned by Aryanto.
While it is true that water can be converted into hydrogen fuel through electrolysis, it takes the same amount of energy to separate the hydrogen and oxygen atoms as is gained when they recombine. Therefore, water-fuelled cars, in the sense of using water as the sole source of energy, remain a hoax.
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Water as a source of hydrogen
Water-fuelled cars have been the subject of numerous international patents, magazine articles, news coverage, and websites. However, the claims made by these sources have largely been discredited as pseudoscience or fraud. The currently accepted laws of physics state that it is impossible to extract chemical energy from water alone.
Despite this, some inventors and companies have claimed to have created technology that can split water into its component elements, hydrogen and oxygen, and use this to power a vehicle. For example, in 2008, Japanese company Genepax unveiled a car it claimed ran on only water and air. The system used an onboard energy generator, which it called a "membrane electrode assembly", to extract the hydrogen using a "mechanism which is similar to the method in which hydrogen is produced by a reaction of metal hydride and water". The hydrogen was then used to generate energy to run the car.
Another example is Indonesian inventor Aryanto Misel, who claimed in 2022 that his invention, Nikuba, can convert water into hydrogen fuel for motorcycles. Aryanto claimed that he only required 1 liter of water for a distance of 500 kilometers. However, Indonesian scientists from the National Research and Innovation Agency stated that the device is theoretically impossible.
It is important to note that, while it is possible to generate hydrogen from water, this process requires an external energy source, such as electricity or a chemical reaction. In the case of electricity, if the electricity used comes from renewable sources, hydrogen production can have a neutral carbon footprint. However, if fossil fuels are used, it can have an adverse impact on the climate footprint of a hydrogen car.
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Fuel cell technology
While there have been claims of cars that can run exclusively on water, these have been deemed pseudoscience or fraud. However, it is possible to run a car on a combination of water and a conventional fuel source, such as gasoline. This is done through a process called water injection, which cools the combustion chambers of engines.
The first commercial use of a fuel cell was in 1959 when a team led by Harry Ihrig built a 15 kW fuel cell tractor for Allis-Chalmers. This system used potassium hydroxide as the electrolyte and compressed hydrogen and oxygen as the reactants. In 1955, W. Thomas Grubb, a chemist working for the General Electric Company (GE), modified the original fuel cell design by using a sulphonated polystyrene ion-exchange membrane as the electrolyte. This became known as the "Grubb-Niedrach fuel cell". GE then developed this technology further with NASA and McDonnell Aircraft, and it was used during Project Gemini.
Fuel cells consist of two electrodes—a negative electrode (or anode) and a positive electrode (or cathode)—sandwiched around an electrolyte. At the anode, a catalyst causes the fuel to undergo oxidation reactions that generate ions (often positively charged hydrogen ions) and electrons. The ions move from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte, while the electrons flow from the anode to the cathode through an external circuit, producing direct current electricity. At the cathode, another catalyst causes ions, electrons, and oxygen to react, forming water and possibly other products.
Fuel cells are classified by the type of electrolyte they use and by their start-up time. For example, proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEM fuel cells, or PEMFC) have a start-up time of 1 second, while solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) can take up to 10 minutes. SOFCs are not suitable for mobile applications due to their high operating temperature and short lifespan.
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Hydrogen on-demand vehicles
While the idea of a water-fuelled car is intriguing, it is not scientifically feasible for a car to run on water alone. However, hydrogen on-demand vehicles offer an alternative approach by utilising a chemical reaction to produce hydrogen from water, which can then be burned in an internal combustion engine or used in a fuel cell to generate electricity, powering the vehicle. This technology, known as Hydrogen-on-Demand, has gained traction within the automotive industry, with several companies developing systems that generate hydrogen fuel for internal combustion engines or fuel cells.
One example of a hydrogen-on-demand system is the Hydrogen Now system, showcased by Hydrogen Power Incorporated at the 2007 International Auto Show in Seattle. They retrofitted this technology inside a 2006 Ford Ranger XL, demonstrating its potential for real-world applications. Another company, Hypower Fuel Incorporated, is also making strides with its Hydrogen Reactor (H2R) on-demand system. Additionally, HyPower Fuel has collaborated with Middle Tennessee State University researchers to develop a plug-in hybrid electric flex-fuel vehicle utilising hydrogen on-demand technology.
The appeal of hydrogen-on-demand systems lies in their potential to revolutionise the automotive industry by reducing the need for a vast hydrogen gas infrastructure. These systems employ either electrolysis or a chemical reaction to generate hydrogen fuel. Electrolysis-based systems often use metal catalysts like aluminium or magnesium to facilitate the process, while chemical reaction systems typically start with sodium borohydride or other boron/hydrogen derivatives.
It is worth noting that hydrogen-on-demand technology has not yet garnered widespread attention, and the current systems are still considered experimental. Nevertheless, the implications of this technology are significant, and it may spark a future battle between Big Chemical and Big Oil companies for dominance in the automotive fuel market.
In conclusion, hydrogen-on-demand vehicles present an innovative approach to utilising water as a source of energy for cars. While the technology is still in its infancy, it holds promise for a cleaner and more sustainable future for the automotive industry, potentially reducing our reliance on traditional petroleum-based fuels.
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Frequently asked questions
Water-fuelled cars are not currently possible. Water in its liquid state does not possess the mechanical or chemical energy required for propulsion. However, hydrogen, which is a constituent element of water, is a promising propulsion system in automotive applications.
Hydrogen fuel cells use chemical energy to generate electricity that powers motors. Hydrogen from the fuel tank is supplied at the anode, where it reacts with a catalyst to split into its constituent subatomic particles, i.e. a proton and an electron. The cathode is supplied with air, and the protons and electrons of hydrogen react with its oxygen to produce water vapour as the only end product.
Yes, water can be used to create hydrogen for fuel through a process called electrolysis. However, it takes the same amount of energy to break the water down as you get back when the hydrogen and oxygen recombine.
Yes, other sources of hydrogen include heat-based processes, such as the pyrolysis of organic material, and steam methane reforming, which is the largest source of hydrogen suitable for use in fuel cells.
