Engineuity developing hydrogen-creating, emission free vehicle

Just in case there weren't enough alternate fuel developments going on around the world, it looks like we've got yet another vying for business over in Israel. Engineuity, a company started by Amnon Yogev, has reportedly developed a method for vehicles to "produce their own fuel" using metals such as magnesium and aluminum to create hydrogen and steam. Similar to a solar-powered "zinc-to-hydrogen" approach that gained attention in 2005, this method utilizes a "long metal coil" which would be inserted into a metal-steam combustor that stands to "separate hydrogen out of heated water." After intense heating, the metal atoms would purportedly bond to the oxygen from the water, creating metal oxide; the result would free up hydrogen molecules to be sent to the engine alongside the steam to provide the juice. The firm also insinuates that "refueling" the vehicle would be "remarkably simply," and construction could be completed on current production lines without requiring entirely new infrastructures. According to Yogev, the "running cost of the system should be equal to that of conventional cars today," and hopes to have a full scale prototype ready to rumble in "around three years."

[Thanks, Mike]

[james @ Jan 3rd 2007 11:13AM]

im no Nye The Science Guy, but why is everything hydrogen. It has been hydrogen forever. You think with all the time that has past something would be out in mass numbers by now. Or they would move on to another alternative.

[neil @ Jan 3rd 2007 9:39PM]

Well, the reason for the infatuation with hydrogen is that there is so much of it, and it can be made from many different sources. the reason we have not seen it yet, in any quantity is that the cost associated with changing out fossil fuel economy is very prohibitive. what this article is not telling you is that this technology is very viable. i had the pleasure of working for Amnon a couple of years ago, and got to witness a computer model of this particular hydrogen engine. i do not expect everyone to jump for joy at the possibility of this invention gaining mass momentum, but you should atleast let yourself believe for a brief moment that it is possible, and the only way we can ever realize this future is to accept is viability. As for the comments about isrealis...they are far more creative, inventive and driven to improve everyones way of life than most closed minded individuals could ever imagine

[Lee @ Jan 3rd 2007 11:18AM]

so instead of oil, zinc would be the new world commodity?

[Brad @ Jan 3rd 2007 11:21AM]

OK. I read the article, and I wasn't entirely sure how the "intense heating" is supposed to happen without a fossil fuel. After some googling, Magnesium self-ignites with steam, but not really with liquid water.

The only concern, then, is to produce high-enough quality magnesium in large-enough quantities. Oh yeah, and "recycling" Magnesium Oxide back to Magnesium is not free (as in net energy).

[Evan @ Jan 3rd 2007 2:48PM]

The Israelis are famous for coming up with panacea inventions which dont and never will exist and milking investors out of money. In the past year alone there has been so many scams we've heard of coming from over there and none of them have come to fruition. Remember that body armor which wouldn't bend even at the pressure of a oncoming train per square inch? what a surprise that no one has heard of that since. And the device which lets you breath water? and on and on and on....

[Grizz @ Jan 3rd 2007 4:30PM]

Energy cannot be created nor destroyed.

[Mike @ Jan 3rd 2007 5:07PM]

Energy can't be created, but fuel can. The fuel stores the energy from the chemical change to hydrogen.

[Mike @ Jan 3rd 2007 8:14PM]

Dugg.
http://digg.com/general_sciences/The_Car_That_Makes_It_s_Own_Fuel

[apr @ Jan 5th 2007 12:54PM]

The main question is to work out the energy balance of the whole process and to verify it experimentally.

It is well known that a current of hot water vapor passing over iron filings or chips maintained at red temperature, the Oxigen of the water vapor will oxidize the iron and let de H2 ( Hydrogen molecule ) go free.

As far as I remember, this process is endothermic, that is, it requires to inject more energy than the one you will be able to obtain by the combustion of the produced hydrogen.

The calculus of the enrgy balance is well known.

In the case of other metals, I supose the balance should be the same, that it is required to enter a bigger amount of energy than the one is obtained in the hydrogen you get.

Nevertheless, I think it is possible to obtain hydrogen from the water in a usefull way.
I can not say more by the time being.

Arturo Pérez
Dr. Industrial Engineer

[avi @ Apr 27th 2007 12:08PM]

the process of h generation seems to be quite interesting but will it be feasible to two wheeler as well??