With gas prices soaring and the supply of fossil fuels dropping yearly, more people are looking for a solution that will allow them to keep driving their cars while also having enough money to pay their mortgage, put food on the table, and keep the lights on. Many people are looking to ethanol as the solution. Creating fuel from corn crops may seem like a great idea until one realizes the tremendous strain such a decision puts on the food supply. What good is lower priced fuel if no one can afford to buy food? Other alternatives, such as solar-powered cars, just aren’t practical. And the most fuel efficient cars on the market – the hybrids – are so expensive they don’t fit the budgets of the average family, especially in current economic conditions.

What can a car owner do to keep his or her costs reasonable? The answer might be dripping from your faucet right now.

Water-Powered Cars: The Reality

A number of web sites are selling the promise of water-powered cars. While that may sound fantastical – like something out of a science fiction film – it isn’t. However, don’t just pour some water into your gas tank and expect your car to go. Don’t expect water to completely replace your need for gasoline either. The promises available today are converters that allow your current car to become more of a hydrogen-hybrid. You can purchase a guide which will help you make the changes to your car using very affordable equipment, usually costing less than a full tank of gas. The converter allows you to add water to your car in order to fuel it. However, it’s important to understand how the process works.

Why Water Can Work as a Fuel

First, it’s not really the water that provides the energy. Water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen. When exposed to a process known as electrolysis, the hydrogen and oxygen are separated. The hydrogen can then be used to power the engine. Hydrogen is a very volatile gas. For that reason, some people believe hydrogen-powered cars are a threat on the roads. However, the gasoline we use today is just as volatile. When used with car and common sense, hydrogen is no more dangerous to drivers than any other type of fuel.

Another advantage is the reduction in pollution. When fossil fuels are used by the internal combustion engine, they emit dangerous chemicals into the air. These chemicals stay in the air and end up causing environmental problems, such as acid rain. With a hydrogen-powered car, the only emission is water vapor. While more water vapor may lead to more clouds and rain, it could also reduce the carcinogens in the air and prevent further damage to the planet.

Water & Your Car

Besides the benefits to the environment and to your wallet, water-powered cars have another advantage. They may extend the life of your car. Research suggests that water and hydrogen are not as hard on your engine as fossil fuels so it’s likely to last longer and to have fewer problems. That also means less money spent on repairs and possibly a higher resell value. Plus, the conversion is entirely reversible. If you’re not happy with the improvement in your gas mileage, then you can always return to the old-fashioned method.

» Read more: How to Make a Car That Runs on Water?