Water as an alternative fuel source

[BWF89]

It works by combining H2O with electricity to form HHO gas. And after it burns it turns right back into water so you won't be wasting Earths most precious resource when you take your car out for a spin.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CMovXzVOzc4

[halfvolle melk]

I saw it a few days ago and found it quite amusing.

[glotz]

Burning oil is madness, agreed. It can be used to produce millions of wonderful products. And once you burn it, it'll never be replaced. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolysis#Electrolysis_of_water

[red_Marvin]

However, watir isn't used as a source, it's just a temporary energy container, you would still need the electricity from somewhere...

[Aewheros]

Exactly. The problem is you spend electric energy (high quality) to create a fuel (hydrogen) which when burnt releases heat energy (low quality). The effect must be considerable less than 100% too. It is better to just use that electricity to charge batteries.

[Kvark]

Yeah this isn't an energy source. But you can fill up the car's tank with this gas in a minute while it takes a lot longer to charge batteries and a gas tank is also cheaper then a huge battery. So perhaps this is a better way to store energy then batteries. The big question is a tank full of this gas or a battery of the same size, which one would keep a car going the longest?

[Bd0g]

What makes this interesting is that for the first time... a revolutionary method of getting energy isn't bought, tucked away for safe storage until it's forgotten.

The U.S patent service got alot of those ... :/ Especially from the power companys. There have been other methods earlier that uses water as a power source.. but as said, they got "lost".

Lets see how fast they can turn this into something global.. and ditch the middle east :P

[halfvolle melk]

The big question is a tank full of this gas or a battery of the same size, which one would keep a car going the longest?
I'll bet that if you'd store it as compressed gas (which you really don't want to do) it will keep going longer than on a battery. However I'd like to see the structure formula of this HHO gas that supposedly is 'more stable' that a mixture of H2 and O2. I think it's a hoax.

[Bd0g]

I think it's a hoax.
Hmmm.. maybe you should google around for a bit first before stating it as a hoax :P

[halfvolle melk]

Hmmm.. maybe you should google around for a bit first before stating it as a hoax :P
Nah, I'd rather rely on what I learned in chemistry class than on scetchy articles like these (http://www.atsnn.com/article/158213). :)
It would be excelent though, as it can't be used for something as malicious as weapons. Something that burns anything but flesh! On the other hand, you can't power your barbeque with it either. ;)

Edit: Or am I missing that it aired on april th first or something?

[Bd0g]

You turn away from it right away.. cause believing in what FOX reports is not an easy thing today ;P

Then they need a new reporter voice... badly...

[Kimm]

HHO gas is something I'd like to call... steam.

HHO = H2O ;)

H2 on the other hand... we like that! (if we add some O2... then Weeee! xD)

[RAV TUX]

What about the MDI Air car:

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/1079/index0dr.th.jpg (http://img127.imageshack.us/my.php?image=index0dr.jpg)

"Welcome to the future!

After twelve years of reserch and development, Guy Negre has developed an engine that could become one of the biggest technological advances of this century. Its application to CAT vehicles gives them significant economical and environmental advantages. With the incorporation of bi-energy (compressed air + fuel) the CAT Vehicles have increased their driving range to close to 2000 km with zero pollution in cities and considerably reduced pollution outside urban areas.
As well, the application of the MDI engine in other areas, outside the automotive sector, opens a multitude of possibilities in nautical fields, co-generation, auxiliary engines, electric generators groups, etc. Compressed air is a new viable form of power that allows the accumulation and transport of energy. MDI is very close to initiating the production of a series of engines and vehicles. The company is financed by the sale of manufacturing licences and patents all over the world."

http://www.theaircar.com/

They could do a hybryd of bi-fuel, compressed air and water or compressed air and hydrogen.