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About 2-1/2 years ago we posted a blog about using water rather than petroleum as a fuel for cars by employing electrolysis to split the water molecule into oxygen and hydrogen, transferring the hydrogen to a hydrogen fuel cell to generate electricity and then use the electricity to power drive motors similar to an all-electric vehicle. We acknowledged the need to lower the parasitic energy demand of the electrolysis process and expressed hope that a person of entrepreneurial brilliance would emerge and solve all of the technical issues (think Elon Musk or a clone).

Well, on September 9, 2024, the CEO of TOYOTA announced that they have produced an automobile that runs on water. Based on some You Tube releases by the company, they have succeeded in lowering the electrolysis power needs and supply it with electricity from a small hydrogen fuel cell that appears to straddle the engine. That’s right, the bulk of the hydrogen is delivered to a fuel injected, in- line four cylinder, four cycle rather conventional looking engine. No heavy batteries or electric motors. The engineering for such an engine is incredible because of the extremely high temperatures created by the combustion of hydrogen (4500 0 F) and combustion chamber sealing due to the minuscular size of Hydrogen molecules. Toyota must have been silently working on this project for a decade or more to make so many leaps in technology.

Environmentally this is a win for everyone. Upstream, mining and transporting of exotic and rare minerals are eliminated. Downstream, vehicle weights remain about the same, emissions consist of condensed clean steam and uncaptured waste heat and there is no almost insurmountable increased load on the electrical grid. Greenhouse gasses no longer exist. There is a chance for trace NO X (Oxides of Nitrogen) in the exhaust. This is not from Nitrogen in the air, but from trace lubricating oil getting into the combustion chamber.

The changes in paradigms this technology will cause are immense from the petrochemical industry to fuel taxes to relationships with and between oil producing countries. Toyota has indicated that they may offer conversion kits to update existing vehicles. Hopefully, there will be no unforeseen obstacles to delay the progress of this all-important technology. Published reports indicate that Toyota has 5000 patents on this project. Most will be honored or released by licensing agreements to competitors. The unknown reaction will be from China.

Our water treatment industry may have an important role as production begins unless Toyota includes a built-in device to prep the water for electrolysis.