Why can't you run a car on water?

[RevoHJC]

Stupid question but why can't you put a widget in that extracts the hydrogen from water, then burn that?

[LooneyTunes]

Where are you going to get the energy from to perform that process?

[RevoHJC]

The alternator?

[PintOfKittens]

LooneyTunes said:

Where are you going to get the energy from to perform that process?

The engine?

[4mo]

Because said widget would take more energy to separate the hydrogen and oxygen than the resulting hydrogen contains.

[greeneggsnsam]

You sound like Karl Pilkington. "Just stick a needle in her 'ed and she'll age backwards."

[thinfourth2]

You can

But

You would get less energy out then you put in so you need to tow a large generator and fuel tank behind you

[RevoHJC]

greeneggsnsam said:

You sound like Karl Pilkington. "Just stick a needle in her 'ed and she'll age backwards."

hahaha

I like this.

[MercuryRises]

Because extracting Hydrogen from water is a massively expensive job. Around 3 times as expensive as producing fossil fuels.

http://www.ecotecture.com/library_eco/energy/hydro...


Also, you'd need an older car with a Carb (or Carbs) as I don't think Hydrogen would work with Injectors.

[Hugo a Gogo]

the energy to crack water is the same as the energy you get out, so even with 100% efficiency you get nothing out of it

[shakotan]

greeneggsnsam said:

You sound like Karl Pilkington. "Just stick a needle in her 'ed and she'll age backwards."

Or "Just stick it on your wrist"

[Crow555]

RevoHJC said:

Stupid question but why can't you put a widget in that extracts the hydrogen from water, then burn that?

Hydrogen is what's known as an energy carrier. It's the most abundant element in the universe but most commonly attached to oxygen to form water. The process of separating the hydrogen from oxygen (for example, electrolysis) requires energy to do so. This hydrogen can be 'burned' which reunites it with oxygen atoms giving off energy in the process. In reality, you're getting back the energy which was used to split the 2 elements in the first place, at least some of it.

Until someone devises a way to efficiently and cleanly produce hydrogen in vast quantities (e.g. solar towers), it won't be a viable fuel to use just yet.

[Hugo a Gogo]

Crow555 said:

Until someone devises a way to efficiently and cleanly produce hydrogen in vast quantities (e.g. solar towers), it won't be a viable fuel to use just yet.

Volcanic energy! we take over Iceland, turn the whole place into a water-cracking plant with big harbours for hydrogen tankers

[CooperS]

Hugo a Gogo said:

Volcanic energy! we take over Iceland, turn the whole place into a water-cracking plant with big harbours for hydrogen tankers

The tune of Team America ran through my head whilst reading that.

What sort of army do they have? As long as it isnt tribal and they dont mind dressing up in the same uniform so its easy to identify who the baddies are we might have a chance to win a war against them.


I'm in!

[Crow555]

Hugo a Gogo said:

Volcanic energy! we take over Iceland, turn the whole place into a water-cracking plant with big harbours for hydrogen tankers

Seriously though, I've always wonder why no-one builds a set of solar towers out in the middle of a desert someplace like namibia or nevada and just start producing tanks of the stuff.

With regards someone above mentioning Carbs, BMW converted a 530 or something to run on hydrogen so it will work with injectors.

Edited for poor spelling due to lunch.

[LooneyTunes]

Hugo a Gogo said:

Volcanic energy! we take over Iceland, turn the whole place into a water-cracking plant with big harbours for hydrogen tankers

And transport all that nasty hydrogen? Surely there's no downside to having a small reactor in your car and doing it in situ...?

[LooneyTunes]

Crow555 said:

Seriously though, I've always wonder why no-one builds a set of solar towers out in the middle of dessert someplace like namibia or nevada and just start producing tanks of the stuff.

They're starting to use more of the space for photovoltaic arrays... seems to be the focus of solar development right now.

[Mr E]

In a word, thermodynamics.

[Prof Prolapse]

RevoHJC said:

The alternator?

Alternator isn't a source of free power. You increase the electrical usage, the resistance in the circuit increases, the amount of turning force required increases and that means more fuel.

As mentioned it has to be less than 100% efficient, so can't even hope to offset the hydrolysis.

Now wind turbines on your car... That's the way forward... Oh wait...

[Zod]

Apart from the problem of actually getting the hydrogen, there are plenty of other problems, such as the effect of igniting hydrogen in a cylinder designed for petrol or diesel and simple containment of hydrogen in the engine's fuel system.