Eli5: Why do automobiles operate with diesel or petrol but not with water?
In: Physics
Once upon a time they did… kinda. Steam powered engines use expanding water vapor to drive pistons, but the heat to turn the water to steam was normally a coal or wood fire in the boiler.
In the future, they may be… kinda. Hydrogen fuel cells have been developed that burn hydrogen and discharge water instead of noxious fumes, but the race is on between pure electric and hydrogen cells, and right now it’s looking like electric will win simply bc the infrastructure is already there.
It could be argued they are right now… kinda. The electricity for an electric car comes from somewhere, and if your electrical grid is powered by a dam… well then your car is powered by the stored potential energy of a massive amount of water.
Latest Answers