Ask HN: Running a car on water. Plausible or just more bad internet science?
I've got a friend who's pretty smart and a good programmer, who keeps going on about building a car to run on just water. He's convinced it's possible and that other people have done it but that there's a big conspiracy by big oil to keep it covered up.
I've sat through all the videos he's shown me, and I've read countless websites and other documents he's supplied, but so far I haven't seen anything like what I'd consider proof.
I try and keep an open mind, and I'd love for this to be possible, but all I keep seeing is bad science, appallingly bad science and stuff bordering on outright fraud. The basic premise behind most of these claims is a means of converting water to hydrogen and oxygen, that requires less energy that what's obtainable from burning the hydrogen.
So here's my question: Does anyone here know of any evidence that supports this? Do you know anyone who's played with this, or of anyone, anywhere, who has set up a simple closed system to prove it?
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There is a reason you can find no conclusive evidence anywhere in the world that this is possible even in a lab environment...
How do you demonstrate to someone that what they are watching is not proof when they don't understand what you're talking about? Example - someone takes a 'fuel cell', plugs in into mains power and exclaims how great it is because it's producing bubbles. Apparently this is a working example and therefore conclusive proof. He just does not comprehend when I say that it demonstrates nothing. Arghhh :/
This raises another question then - how can seemingly intelligent people fall for such bad science. Why don't people understand the basics of chemistry? Why on earth can someone who has completed a university level education be so lacking in the fundamentals of chemistry?
Just think conservation of energy.
Having said that - it might be possible to run a car on water if you had a fusion reactor that would fit in your car. Pull the heavy hydrogen from the water and away you go. That technology is still a way off.
Look at the periodic table. There is just ONE element more electrochemically negative than Oxygen, and it's Fluorine. So unless he's planning to make a car that runs on water and Fluorine, it's not possible.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronegativity
The one other alternative is fusion, and I'm sorry bud, but it ain't happening in a car anytime soon.
If he takes electricity, puts it into some magical device containing water, and unplugs it, and then runs his car on the output, then it all depends on how much went in and how much came out.
I'll bet more went in than came out.
If he means he puts water into some magical device, and then the car runs on that, no chance.
There are cars that run on air. They put compressed air into a cylinder, then drive an engine similar to a steam engine. Then the proponents claim "It runs on Air!" and in a sense they're right.
Precision required. What actually happens?
Short answer: TANSTAAFL.
the concept keeps getting rekindled with new breakthroughs, the latest one being the radio frequency generator that "burns" salt water. its still not efficient enough to make a car go. not yet, at least.