Buzz
The Tiguan HyMotion utilizes a hydrogen fuel cell system for power. Explore more images of vehicles using alternative fuels.
Volkswagen of AmericaImagine powering your car with a fuel so clean that its only byproduct is water vapor. Wouldn't you switch immediately?
Interestingly, this is possible. Car manufacturers are innovating technologies to replace gasoline with hydrogen as a fuel source. Hydrogen is abundant and poses fewer environmental risks compared to traditional petroleum-based fuels. The development of hydrogen as a car fuel is progressing in two main directions: hydrogen-on-demand for internal combustion engines and fuel cell vehicles.
Gallery of Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Given the potential of these two clean energy technologies, numerous scams have emerged to exploit the growing interest. In this article, we’ll explore fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines, and even examine recent ads that suggest you can run your car on water with a simple conversion kit.
All hydrogen technologies operate on a similar principle to gasoline-powered cars. Both gasoline and hydrogen store chemical energy, which can be released through a chemical reaction. For gasoline or hydrogen engines, this reaction is combustion, or burning the fuel. In fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen combines with oxygen to produce energy. While combustion engines convert this energy into mechanical power, fuel cells transform it into electrical energy. This is a simplified explanation of the process. If you’re unfamiliar with the differences between internal combustion engines and fuel cells, consider reading How Car Engines Work and How Fuel Cells Work.
Continue reading to discover whether it’s truly possible to power your car with water.
Does the idea of a hydrogen-powered car evoke memories of the Hindenburg disaster? A significant challenge for hydrogen as a fuel is the public’s perception of its safety. While automakers claim hydrogen is as safe as gasoline, their assurances aren’t always convincing. For instance, during his review of the BMW Hydrogen 7, New York Times auto critic Lawrence Ulrich was barred from driving the vehicle through the Lincoln or Holland tunnels by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey [source: Ulrich].
Hydrogen-on-Demand
Glen Castillio, a Filipino inventor, gathers hydrogen using his portable hydrogen reactor, which is linked to a 12-volt car battery. His device extracts sufficient hydrogen from water to power a vehicle’s engine.
JAY DIRECTO/AFP/Getty ImagesHydrogen-on-demand can refer to two distinct applications. It can supply hydrogen for a fuel cell or for an internal combustion engine.
Several companies and independent inventors have asserted that they’ve developed aftermarket components enabling consumers to retrofit their vehicles with hydrogen-on-demand systems. The most prevalent of these systems generates hydrogen as an additive to gasoline, a process known as hydrogen fuel enhancement or hydrogen injection. These systems typically produce hydrogen by converting water—composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom—into HHO gas, a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen also referred to as oxyhydrogen or Brown’s Gas, named after its creator.
In most aftermarket hydrogen-on-demand setups, HHO gas is produced by passing an electrical charge through water and a chemical additive, which varies by system. The vehicle’s battery generates the charge, creating HHO gas that is then directed into the engine via the intake manifold. There, it blends with gasoline and combusts in the engine chamber. Proponents claim that adding HHO gas lowers combustion temperatures, boosting efficiency and reducing emissions.
Many companies and inventors marketing these aftermarket components advertise them as a way to run your car on water. However, it’s not water alone powering the vehicle—it’s the chemical reaction between water and an additive, combined with the gasoline or diesel in the fuel tank. In reality, powering a car solely with water is nearly unfeasible. Chemical reactions release energy by breaking bonds, but water’s bonds are so stable that breaking them consumes more energy than the reaction yields. Thus, while these systems may improve gasoline engine efficiency, the energy required to produce HHO gas often offsets the benefits.
However, aftermarket systems aren’t the sole method for integrating hydrogen into a vehicle’s engine. Discover on the next page how automakers are effectively utilizing hydrogen technology.
Hydrogen-powered Cars
A BMW Hydrogen 7 arrives at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif.
Vince Bucci/Getty Images for BMWAs previously mentioned, hydrogen can fuel both fuel cells and internal combustion engines. The BMW Hydrogen 7, for instance, features an engine capable of running on either gasoline or hydrogen. A critical point to note is that the Hydrogen 7 uses liquid hydrogen, which must be maintained at extremely low temperatures. If not, the hydrogen converts to gas and becomes unusable for powering the engine. The primary modifications for hydrogen-powered vehicles focus on the fuel tank, not the engine, as maintaining liquid hydrogen requires advanced cooling technology.
Another concern is engine tolerances. Vehicle engines are designed to operate under specific conditions and with particular fuels. Using lower octane gasoline, for example, can alter performance. While the car might still run, it’s far from optimal—similar to surviving on a diet of licorice, which isn’t sustainable. Cars like the BMW Hydrogen 7 are engineered specifically for hydrogen, equipped with advanced computer systems to ensure optimal performance. Could someone retrofit their car to run on hydrogen? Technically, yes—anything is possible, though it’s highly unlikely.
Another consideration is the availability of hydrogen. Even if you could power your car with hydrogen, where would you refuel? Hydrogen stations are scarce, with California being the only U.S. state currently offering them. Home refueling systems exist, but they rely on natural gas lines, requiring conversion of natural gas into hydrogen fuel for vehicles.
Overall, dependable hydrogen fuel technology remains under development. While hydrogen offers the potential for a renewable energy source that reduces emissions, significant technological challenges must be overcome before it becomes mainstream. Automakers are advancing fuel cell technology, and hydrogen-powered vehicles may soon become common. However, the idea of "water-powered" cars remains far-fetched and unlikely to ever hit the market.
