Toyota's Water Engine: Could It Redefine the Future of Cars?

Electric vehicles seem to be the cause and point of discussion every time we think about sustainable vehicles and it’s all thanks to Tesla. But I have a quite radical idea that could possibly change this narrative together and yes that’s coming from a car manufacturer whom you might never thought of. 

They are working on a car that would run on water, it is none other than the industry giant Toyota. So, sit back and relax as we discuss how the water engine from Toyota's Water Engine could revolutionize the entire industry.

A Car Powered by Water? Yes, Really

Imagine pulling up to a fuel station and filling your tank with water instead of gas or charging with electricity. That’s not science fiction anymore—it’s a reality Toyota is exploring.

Here’s why this innovation could leave EVs in the dust:

• Eco-Friendly Combustion: Toyota's water engine emits water as exhaust, making it one of the cleanest combustion systems ever conceived.

• Comparable Power: Unlike the stereotype of green technologies being "weaker," this engine reportedly matches the power of traditional gasoline engines.

Why Leave EVs Behind?

At first glance, electric vehicles seem the perfect answer to environmental concerns. But Toyota identified some glaring issues:

1. The Hidden Pollution of EVs

         • Charging Sources: We are wired to believe electric vehicles are the future and aria out zero emissions but their energy sources are at times coal, natural gas, or diesel for charging, hence the emissions come from charging energy sources.

• Battery Production: The extraction alone of metals beats the purpose of EVs as a single electric vehicle has a whopping 13600 kgs of CO2 emissions thanks to origins such as lithium, cobalt & nickel being energy draining and needed to create lithium-ion batteries.

2. The Quest for Sustainability

Toyota realized that despite its eco-friendly image, EVs aren’t the ultimate solution. Instead, the company focused on innovating combustion engines while searching for greener fuels. Enter hydrogen and water as potential game-changers.

Why Water? A First Principles Approach

Toyota began its journey of building water engines with a particular approach in mind - first principles thinking. This is usually applied by breaking a challenge down to its fundamentals and then addressing them one at a time. Here’s how they went about it:

• Hydrogen’s Potential: The greenest option is Hydrogen. Hydrogen is the simplest and most abundant element. It burns without emitting carbon dioxide. However, pure hydrogen is highly flammable and difficult to store safely.

• The Water Solution: Water contains hydrogen, is stable, and is non-flammable. Hence, there was no point in postulating. 

The engineers went ahead to propose using water as a fuel source by extracting hydrogen straight from it using electrolysis, which is essentially the splitting of water into oxygen and hydrogen and then utilizing hydrogen whenever it is required.

Addressing the Challenges

Toyota wasn’t the first to experiment with water as a fuel. There were challenges aplenty, but the company found innovative ways to overcome them: 

Problem 1: Corrosion

Water can corrode metal fuel tanks, leading to rust and degradation. Solution: Toyota designed tanks with special water-resistant coatings to prevent corrosion.

Problem 2: Storage and Transport

Storing and transporting hydrogen gas is risky because it’s highly flammable. Solution: Toyota integrated the electrolysis process into the car itself, producing hydrogen on demand instead of storing it in large tanks.

Problem 3: Efficiency

Extracting hydrogen from water requires energy. Solution: Toyota developed a hybrid system using a small onboard battery to power the electrolysis process, ensuring efficiency without compromising safety.

The Big Picture: Toyota’s Vision

Toyota's water engine is not merely an invention, it is also a declaration. They have always been a ‘David’ in a world of giants. Years before electric cars became fashionable, back in the 90s, they created the Prius, the first hybrid electric vehicle. 

And now with the water engine, they are looking to shift the conception of what we understand as ‘sustainable transportation’. 

• Investing years into evolving not following fads: In contrast to trend-infatuated companies, Toyota concentrates on innovation

• The Changing Paradigm: Issues related to energy and emissions are being dealt with, every such investment should set a bar for the automotive industry.

Final Thoughts: Could This Really Change the World?

The concept of an engine that runs exclusively on water created by Toyota has the potential to change the perception of energy and energy consumption on an entirely new level. 

Their invention, if it gains traction, would mean that today's electric vehicles would become a thing of the past – it was only temporary.

Is this the beginning of the end of the EV craze? One can only wait and see. But whether you like it or hate it, there is one thing everybody can agree upon. 

The competition in the market for the future of transport has definitely become more cut-throat.

What's your take? Is water the fuel of the future or just another void promise? Let me know in the comments below.