| With oil prices rising everyday, and no limit seen in | | | | with the exhaust. If you were following along closely, |
| sight, it seems high time that people as a whole | | | | you would realize that the average gas engine |
| began serious discussion of alternative fuels and more | | | | actually expends more energy burning the unburnt |
| efficient use of the fuel that we do have. The | | | | fuel that was meant to drive the car. Not efficient at |
| problem is that for a number of reasons, valid | | | | all! It is no wonder the average fuel efficiency of an |
| information has been blocked and kept out of the | | | | internal combustion engine is only 20%. |
| public eye for too long. Converting a car to run on | | | | The important question now is, how can we as the |
| water is just a small example. Now, before you | | | | consumers who are getting the short end of the |
| throw the laws of thermodynamics around and tell | | | | stick modify these inefficient engines to gain more |
| me it is an impossibility, I want to assure you that | | | | out of the precious gasoline we pay top dollar for |
| the vehicle will not run on water, rather water will be | | | | everyday. We could invest in expensive hybrid |
| utilized to make the engine more efficient. Considering | | | | vehicles, and yes, we would save some money. The |
| the average gasoline engine only achieves | | | | problem is that the hybrids are rather expensive and |
| approximately 20% efficiency, there is plenty of | | | | would take years for us to get the return on |
| room for improvement, and any improvement | | | | investment. The other option is modifying the engines |
| translates directly to money saved at the pump. | | | | we already have in our inefficient vehicles to get |
| So, you are probably wondering if converting a car to | | | | higher fuel efficiency. Converting a car to run on |
| run on water is an actual possibility. In order to | | | | water is exactly what this is about. |
| understand how it could work, you first have to | | | | Through an electrolytic process, we sap some of the |
| understand how an internal combustion engine works. | | | | engines power in the form of electrical energy to |
| An internal combustion engine relies on compression | | | | break water down into hydrogen and oxygen. We |
| of atmospheric air to burn gasoline in the combustion | | | | then feed these two gases into the air intake. The |
| chamber. The pressure wave caused by the | | | | result is a better oxygen fuel ratio and a more |
| expansion of the combustion by-products are what | | | | complete burn. The increased efficiency and savings |
| drive the piston up. The movement of the piston is | | | | are a by-product of a more efficient burn, not from |
| what turns a crank shaft which is translated into | | | | the power derived from the hydrogen and oxygen |
| circular motion of the axles. During this series of | | | | itself. |
| events, a lot of energy is lost in the form of heat | | | | Now that you know what converting a car to run on |
| and sound, and even more energy is lost in the form | | | | water is all about, it is time you did your own |
| of incompletely burnt gasoline. This is where the | | | | research. Become well informed, and reap the |
| catalytic converter comes in. The catalytic converter | | | | rewards in fuel savings! |
| actually burns the unburnt fuel that escapes along | | | | |