Hydro Powered Cars: The Wave of the Future

“The first car driven by a child born today could be powered by hydrogen and pollution free.” Those were the words spoken by President G.W. Bush in his State of the Union Address of 2003. Perhaps he wasn’t so far off the mark and in fact, that benchmark may be reached sooner rather than later.

Big corporations and those that are environmentally active see hydro powered cars as the wave of the future and as a way to solve many of the environmental concerns that plague our planet. Combine environmental concerns, high gas prices and a shrinking oil supply and hydro powered cars seem to be the answer to our prayers.

Today’s Hydro Powered Cars

The current technology that dominates hydro powered cars uses natural gas along with steam to produce the carbon dioxide and hydrogen fuel. This process is referred to as steam reforming. This method can only ensure that about two thirds of the energy winds up as hydrogen that is useful to power a car. Natural gas is also a fossil fuel as is petroleum and should not be relied upon for hydro powered cars. Natural gas can be put to uses that are more important such as feedstock for a variety of chemicals and for heating the average home.

Hydro Powered Cars Using Electrolysis

The most efficient and rewarding method of energy for hydro powered cars is through electrolysis. This is a straightforward process and does not require the use of fossil fuels. The big oil companies that now dominate the market don’t like this method as it takes profits out of their pockets and puts the money we now spend for gasoline back into the pocket of the consumer. The process in essence uses water to split into oxygen and hydrogen.

Imagine hydro powered cars that run exclusively on water. It is a sustainable and clean energy source and could change the way the world gets from here to there. The environmentalists want the world to further research and develop wind or solar power in order to create electricity. In this way the global community will be entirely based on “renewable hydrogen economy.” But that hope is shadowed by the costs associated with the path to renewable hydrogen energy and may in fact set back electrical power deployment. The energy produced by wind and solar power should be used for power generation and heating and not to make hydrogen.

The Nuclear Industry Has Their Say

Those involved with the nuclear industry try to say that nuclear reactors can be used in order to create the hydrogen needed for hydro powered cars and fuel cells. The public has had much negative publicity associated with the nuclear industry, and trying to push this technology on the masses is not deemed advisable.
Though the technology exists to make hydro powered cars, perhaps the bottom line, the cost to the economy may be too great at present. As more research and developments continue in this area of technology, we may find viable alternatives for creating hydro powered cars in the future.

Cars That Run on Water Tip #1

No matter what anybody tells you, there is not yet a water powered car in production. That is an urban myth that reached its peak with Stanley Meyer who claimed that he drove one hundred miles using only four ounces of water (he was later convicted of fraud). The water powered engine hasn't even been invented yet. Scientists are still trying to figure out if it is even possible.

Cars That Run on Water Tip #2

Many major car manufacturers are embracing the idea of the hydrogen car. BMW hopes to release a hydrogen car to the public by 2008 (or 2010 at the latest) and other manufacturers like Toyota are also making plans to release hydrogen car lines. Of course the debate over using hydrogen in cars is still raging and nothing has been settled yet.

Cars That Run on Water Tip #3

While both a water based engine and a hydrogen engine will do wonders for fuel emissions and the environment, one of the major reasons people want them is to improve their fuel mileage. Of course, gas mileage can be improved right now. You can improve your gas mileage drastically just by driving sensibly and making sure your car is maintained properly.