No way HHO says AA

Water powered cars might be a way for the future, but not just yet says the Automobile Association.

A recent Northern News article related the experiences of Chris Harris and Wally Smith of Kaikohe, who have been running their cars on ordinary fuel plus a gas called HHO.

Mr Harris claims he uses 30 to 40 percent less fuel in his Mitsubishi Mirage after installing a home-made hydrogen fuel cell.

That apparatus is a coil in distilled water inside a jam jar which receives a charge when the ignition is turned on.

This rearranges molecules in the water to convert it from its normal chemical structure of H2O into HHO – oxyhydrogen – which burns well and releases a lot of energy in the process.

The HHO is channelled into the car’s carburettor where it is burnt alongside fuel, apparently reducing petrol usage.

However the AA say this is impossible.

"HHO has a negative net energy ratio," says AA media spokesperson, Rachael Salt.

"This means the amount of energy you get out of the conversion is less than what you put in."

Ms Salt says to produce a car that used a hydrogen fuel cell effectively, it would need more than just a jam jar full of water.

"It does work, but not effectively enough to save fuel," she says.

However veteran technology writer, Bruce Simpson says the whole thing is a scam.

"It defies the laws of thermodynamics. You can’t run a car on something that has a negative net energy ratio," he says. "People are sucked in and they trick themselves into believing it uses less fuel."

"If you look at websites offering these systems, whoever made them is receiving money when you click on the sites. It’s just not possible."

- © Fairfax NZ News