FROM ENGADGET.....
We've seen plenty of promises about water-powered cars (among other things), but it looks like Japan's Genepax has now made some real progress on that front, with it recently taking the wraps off its Water Energy System fuel cell prototype. The key to that system, it seems, is its membrane electrode assembly (or MEA), which contains a material that's capable of breaking down water into hydrogen and oxygen through a chemical reaction. Not surprisingly, the company isn't getting much more specific than that, with it only saying that it's adopted a "well-known process to produce hydrogen from water to the MEA." Currently, that system costs on the order of ¥2,000,000 (or about $18,700 -- not including the car), but company says that if it can get it into mass production that could be cut to ¥500,000 or less (or just under $5,000). Head on past the break for a video of car in action courtesy of Reuters.
The key to that system, it seems, is its membrane electrode assembly (or MEA), which contains a material that's capable of breaking down water into hydrogen and oxygen through a chemical reaction. Not surprisingly, the company isn't getting much more specific than that, with it only saying that it's adopted a "well-known process to produce hydrogen from water to the MEA." Currently, that system costs on the order of ¥2,000,000 (or about $18,700 -- not including the car) I recall an article about this system posted to FR, a home hydrogen electrical generating unit, that provided electricity and hot water. There was a photo on the thread, of a Japanese guy adding water to one that was powering his own residence, it was a box about the size of a home heat pump or a/c.
The key to that system, it seems, is its membrane electrode assembly (or MEA), which contains a material that's capable of breaking down water into hydrogen and oxygen through a chemical reaction. Does the MEA act as a catalyst or is it chemically consumed during this operation. I could do the same thing by hiding blocks of pure zinc and pure copper in the box. Add impure water and you get the equivalent of the "potato battery". That electricity can be used to break water into hydrogen and oxygen. The problem is that the copper and zinc are combined with other elements to make other compounds. (Sorry, I'm too lazy to track down the exact reactions). Once the pure copper and zinc are consumed the electricity stops.