| Man has used steam as a source of power for many | | | | lighter and smaller than a gas engine. It was also more |
| years now. It was used to fuel locomotives and ships | | | | suited to the torque and speed characteristics of the |
| across the world for decades. The next obvious step | | | | axle. This meant it did not require a complex and |
| would be to try and develop a steam-powered | | | | heavy transmission system like the gas car. Steam |
| automobile that could be used on a daily basis. | | | | cars also ran quieter than gas models, even without |
| A car that is fuelled and powered by a steam engine | | | | some form of muffler system. |
| is not out of the question as some prototypes have | | | | The major difference between the two types of cars |
| already been made. Steam-powered agricultural and | | | | is that a steam engine uses an external combustion |
| haulage vehicles are in use now, but are very heavy in | | | | engine, where fuel is combusted outwards from the |
| weight. Steam cars were actually developed and | | | | motor. The gas car uses the internal combustion |
| produced at a steady rate in the early 1900s as steam | | | | engine, which means the fuel is actually combusted |
| was the major source of power for trains at the time | | | | within the engine. One of the benefits of an external |
| and the knowledge to run an engine was already in | | | | engine is that it produces lower emissions of carbon |
| place. | | | | monoxide, oxides, nitrogen, as well as unburned carbon. |
| That knowledge actually gave the steam car an | | | | This makes it a lot better for the environment when it |
| advantage over a conventional gas car and in 1900 | | | | comes to less pollution. |
| steam cars were considered to be superior and held | | | | However, steam cars were harder to start and took a |
| various speed records on land for automobiles. | | | | while to warm up. When the electric starter was |
| However, by the time 1920 rolled around, the | | | | introduced it basically meant the end for external |
| gas-powered car had taken over in quality and | | | | combustion engines when it came to cars. But the |
| popularity. | | | | internal combustion engine was not really superior |
| One of the major problems with steam cars is its | | | | when it came to fuel economy, range, and |
| boiler. The boiler makes up most of the full mass of | | | | performance. |
| the drive train of the car, and this adds greatly to the | | | | Steam cars have not completely fallen by the wayside |
| overall weight of the vehicle. Another boiler-related | | | | and some projects have been worked on since the |
| problem is the fact that the driver would somehow | | | | 1970s. They are still made and driven, though mainly by |
| have to make sure it has a continuous supply of water | | | | hobbyists and steam car enthusiasts. In August of |
| to replenish the boiler. This means the water has to be | | | | 1999, a steam car was able to reach an average |
| carried or the auto would have to have a condenser | | | | speed of 148.308 mph. While steam cars are still a |
| built into it. But this would just add more weight as well | | | | possibility for future use, the feeling of most |
| as inconvenience. | | | | researchers is that the time of the cars has come and |
| At the time, a steam automobile did have some | | | | gone. |
| benefits to it. The engine itself, without the boiler, was | | | | |