Originally Posted By howard
OK I am almost 50 years out of university but this still smells like snake oil to me. To split hydrogen from oxygen in an electrolyte takes at least as much energy as is released again by burning the hydrogen in an engine. It may well take more energy , wasted in things like heating the electrolyte and resistance heating of the wiring in the cells etc. And that energy is produced by the car engine, so at best its a zero sum game.

Car engine produces energy - some used to drive alternator - some alternator output used to power "fuel cell" - gasese generated back into engine - gases burned to generate less energy than used in fuel cell.

IMO the likelyhood is that the power going to the rear wheels will be a bit less than normal but the mix of gases being burned means that there is a bit less CO2.

Can anyone whose physics and chemistry is a bit more up to date comment on this? I might be wrong but it looks to me like the "cold fusion" claims we periodically see.

P.S. The ratio of ortho hydrogen to para hydrogen is a max of 3:1 at room temperature and above. But AFAIK there is no difference in energy released on combustion anyway


I don't disagree with what you are saying, and AFAIK the main claims for this device are about cleaning up emissions rather than decreasing fuel consumption which is only around 5% I think. I think the theory is that this would come from the hydrogen enabling more complete combustion of the primary fuel. I don't think anyone is claiming over-unity power production on this.

Tim H.
1986 4/4 VVTi Sport, 2002 LR Defender, 2022 Mini Cooper SE