Fill 'er up, maam? Hard water or distilled?

[jmcon007]

The other day I was watching Nova or something as someone was describing the dangers to our ozone. According to these experts, one natural reaction observed is one that breaks a water molecure down into its elements: oxygen and hydrogen gas. This caused me to wonder something anew I've wondered for many years, but was loathe to display my ignorance. I guess I'm at an age now where revealing my ignorance is one of the least of my worries.

My question is, why are we not filling our vehicles to run on water? Within the water molecule are the elements of hydrogen (very explosive....it was the gas used in the Hindenburg) and oxygen....indespensible in the burning of anything. I've heard of hydrogen fuel cells and I believe we already have the technology at NASA. As a matter of fact, I understand that finding water on Mars is crucial not only to drink, but to use it to refuel for the return flight.
I actually believe I know the answer as to why we're not "full steam ahead" (pardon the pun) on this technology for trucks and autos. As President Bush might say: "Two words: General Motors and Exxon". They are becoming rich on oil...not water....and they spend not a small amount for Capitol Hill lobbyists to oversee their interests.
But, if they were forced to apply this technology to the auto industry, think of what might follow.
Sure, we could fill our cars from rain barrels, but how long would it be before all the fresh water is controlled by a huge corporation, say AquaCo.? Any guesses as to what would happen then? Sure, oil prices would drop to a nickle a barrel, but flushing your stool would now cost you $80. That, in turn, would bring back outhouses and water wells, that is if we owned the rights to the fresh water beneath our feet.
Any other thoughts?

[shoelace414]

1. we can't squeeze

enough energy out of water.. and as for fuel cells.. they are too expensive currently to replace internal combustion.

[VTMechEngr]

2. Simple. It takes more energy to split water than the products provide.

Oxygen and Hydrogen cannot provide enough energy to justify breaking water down on a vehicle.

[ArkDem]

3. My car does run on water.

[VTMechEngr]

4. The mars fuel is not what you think.

They need water to make the oxygen and hydrogen for rocket fuel. The process takes more energy than it releases, but we can provide electricity from solar or nuclear power to make the rocket fuel. The other energy methods cannot blast a space ship off of a planet, but the H+O2 can.

[jmcon007]

5. my question answered.....

taking more energy than it's worth is acceptable and I suppose with a little more research I could have figured it out.

[jmcon007]

6. Ok, how about this......

Set aside the asthetics of such a contraption, but:

Suppose you had a vehicle supplied with two enormous batteries. Using the concept of our modern alternators, why could we not equip a vehicle such as this with a large, wind generated fan (located where the radiator is in today's cars)that generates voltage traveling down the road enough to charge one battery while using the other for power? When the battery used for power became low, the switch would be automatically made to use the charged one for power while the low one is being charged.

I know something is wrong with this, because if this worked we would only need to run off the fan alone. But, maybe this could be part of a hybrid, if it's not already?

Somebody inject some sanity here and set me straight.

[XemaSab]

7. Well....

part of the problem is that the fan would create drag on the vehicle, so you'd be getting less power with every recharge.... I think?

(I've had this thought too)

:-)

[VTMechEngr]

8. Here is why:

A fan generator would never spin. The electrical power draw would produce a field too strong for the fan to fight it, with it maybe making a few slow rpm's at highway speed. Alternators use a lot of power, several HP, when producing a lot of power. Ever stop a table fan or ceiling fan with your hand? The motor can produce just enough power to push air but cannot fight the friction of your hand. And your asking this little fan to produce several thousand foot-pounds of energy. It cannot be done.

Also, power output from a wind generator is a square of the radius, and a cube of the wind speed. Hence the enormous size of wind power generators.