A water powered car?

[Retro]

Wouldn't a water powered car be great? Why don't we see them? The Action Lab explains all.

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[Astro What]

The technology is still being researched of breaking down water to it's component atoms and then using the hydrogen for power. For a pure water powered vehicle, the problem that comes into play is that pesky first and second law of thermodynamics. Seems you can't get more energy out than it takes to separate those elements, so it's a wash in generating extra power.
I expect we will see an electrically powered vehicle that can use solar to break down water into components for use to generate electricity before we will see a pure water powered vehicle.

 

[Retro]

All these points were addressed in the video and none of them work, since there's always an extra conversion step with its consequent energy losses.

Take that solar power example. Just drive the electric motors directly from the solar cells rather than break down water to use that energy instead as one will get less energy this way due to that extra step.

 

[Astro What]

Take that solar power example. Just drive the electric motors directly from the solar cells rather than break down water to use that energy instead as one will get less energy this way due to that extra step.

Using the electricity to break down the water could, in theory, generate more power than simple solar. With solar you are dependent upon batteries to store the electricity generated, with breaking down the water to it's basic components then using the hydrogen as the fuel source you can reduce the required number of batteries, thereby increasing the efficiency since the load the vehicle is carrying is not as heavy.

Ideally... fusion power.

 

[Retro]

Ideally... fusion power.

Imagine a small, super safe fusion reactor in every car (even in accidents) that only needs refueling every year or more. It would be a dream come true. We can but dream, sigh.