How Does a Car Use Water as Fuel?

How Can a Car be Fueled by Water?

The simple answer is, it can't; not in it's immediate form at any rate. However, there are several processes, both revolutionary and old, which are capable of breaking down water. As most will know, the chemical structure of water is H2O--two hydrogen atoms connected to one oxygen atom. If water can be broken down, then you have both oxygen gas and hydrogen gas. Hydrogen gas is highly flammable and can be used in two ways to motivate a car. The typical internal combustion engine can be modified to be more air tight so as not to allow the hydrogen to escape. Then it can take the place of gasoline. Another more energy efficient and ecologically friendly method is to combine the hydrogen gas inside of a device called a hydrogen fuel cell with plain oxygen. This creates a chemical reaction which results in electricity sufficient to run an electrical car engine.

The Myth

For several decades, scam artists have hyped the idea of a car that runs on water without the need for a hydrogen fuel cell or any other extra machinery. All one needs, they say, is their patented device which will convert water automatically into electricity to run an electric car. The most prominent and controversial of these proponents of the concept is Stanley Meyer who developed the Water Fuel Cell, which he claimed produced more energy than it needed to run. These claims were found to be fraudulent in 1996 by an Ohio court, and his patent on the design was denied. Despite the disproval of his inventions as well as those made by others, many people persist in believing in these concepts, which all go against the laws of physics as well as common sense. Unfortunately, this had made legitimate research into the use of water as a component in new fuel sources very difficult.

The Reality

There are many methods by which water can be broken down in order to obtain cheap hydrogen to fuel Hydrogen-powered vehicles. The oldest is electrolysis, by passing an electrical current through water, one breaks down water into its component atoms. The only problem is that the amount of electricity required to do this far exceeds the amount of energy created by the hydrogen electrolysis produces. So far, the most promising method of turning water into hydrogen is being developed in Israel. It involves having an onboard tank containing 40 liters of water and 18 kg of the metal element boron. As the boron combines with water, it experiences a violent chemical reaction which breaks the water up into oxygen and hydrogen, which is then used in conjunction with a hydrogen fuel cell to power an electrical car. As boron can be reclaimed and recycled from the chemical reaction, you would only need to pay a small upkeep cost and the price of distilled water.