Social media is abuzz with how Toyota is developing a water driven car. Such a thing does not exist. Never did. So media claims are based more on ignorance of journalists rather than strides in technology.
Contrary to claims on social media, Toyota is not developing an engine that directly runs on water. They are, however, making significant advancements in hydrogen-powered vehicles, specifically fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), which utilize hydrogen as a fuel source and have water as their only byproduct. The confusion arises from the fact that these vehicles produce water vapor as exhaust, leading some to mistakenly refer to them as “water engines”.
Toyota’s Mirai, for example, is a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. It doesn’t burn gasoline or other fuels; instead, it uses a fuel cell to convert hydrogen into electricity, which then powers the vehicle.
The only byproduct of this process is water vapor, which is emitted from the tailpipe. This is why some people call it a “water engine”.
It’s crucial to understand that the vehicle doesn’t run directly on water. It uses hydrogen gas, which needs to be produced separately and then stored in the vehicle.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles offer advantages such as longer range, faster refueling compared to some battery-electric vehicles, and no reliance on rare earth minerals for batteries.
Toyota has been a strong proponent of hydrogen technology and continues to invest in its development and infrastructure.
In essence, while Toyota is not developing a car that runs on water, they are at the forefront of hydrogen fuel cell technology, which produces water as a byproduct, leading to the misconception of a “water engine”.
This video explains how Toyota’s Mirai works and highlights its hydrogen-powered engine:
