A Home-Converted Steam Powered Car

The threat of Climate Change and the search for more renewable energy sources for transport has led to a resurgence of interest in using steam power for road vehicles in the future.

While very popular in the late 19th century, steam cars dropped-off in popularity following the adoption of the electric starter motor, removing the need for hand cranking to start gasoline engined cars. Ironically, the electric starter motor was also the beginning of the end for mass adoption of electric cars.

Most of the issues and problems that caused the demise of steam powered vehicles have been solved over the last 100 years. Modern steam cars have the ability to be started and ready to drive in around 30 seconds. Technological advances have also given steam powered vehicles long ranges, eliminating the need for constant water top ups and manual fuel feeding.

Advances in emission reduction and particulate filtering means that modern, efficient steam boilers could now be fired by natural gas, waste methane or waste oils, while emitting the same or less carbon output as modern clean diesel technology.

There’s also the prospect of having vehicle boilers “fired up” with electricity at home or a shopping mall, allowing emission free low-range local driving for several miles, before the boiler’s gas-powered system activates.

On a more extreme note, in areas where there is a high level of geothermal activity such as Iceland and New Zealand, superheated steam could be piped to “refuelling” stations.

With all the above options in mind, and with others predicted in the future, there is a chance we could start to see more steam powered vehicles from small start ups, as well as a resurgence in the home-conversion market.

Converting a car to run on steam would be similar to converting a car to run on electricity and it has been done before. If you can get solid fuel for next to nothing, or if you own a forest, then the cost benefits in running your car off a wood-fired boiler are there.

Though admittedly this presents more issues to work through from emission control to onboard boiler safety, but the conversion process is similar to that of electric, and is certainly achievable as seen in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnpfrsG1YaA

The big question is whether operating a steam car is cleaner than operating an electric car?