There have been a few companies which have been working on new applications of steam power for our automobiles, some of which are well known, such as BMW, and others just now coming out of the woodwork. One such company is Clean Power Technologies based in the U.K. One common thread from these new systems is that they all rely on waste heat from our tried-and-true internal combustion engines. CPT's technology uses the exhaust heat to generate its steam, and it has many uses from there. In early tests, the company powered half of a Mazda rotary engine with steam and the company is still investigating the possibility of a gas/steam hybrid, hoping to have something ready for production by 2011. Another possibility involves powering auxiliary systems such as air conditioning or refrigeration units with the steam power. CPT is working with Safeway stores in the U.S. to start testing this system shortly.

[Source: Channel 4]

Despite the untimely death of project manager Frank Swanston from lung cancer, the British Steam Car Challenge is still on for a record attempt at the Bonneville Salt Flats in August of this year. Before assaulting the World Record, the British team will first tackle the standing record in their home country. Set on July 3, 1938, the British record stands at 126 miles per hour. That's just under the official World Record, which was set in 1906 by Fred Marriott, who drove a modified Stanley Steamer to 127.659 miles per hour.

With their extremely aerodynamic steamer, the British Steam Car Team shouldn't have too much trouble setting a new record later this year. In fact, the team is hoping to break the 200 mile per hour mark. After their historic run is completed, the vehicle is to be placed on permanent display at the National Motor Museum Trust at Beaulieu.

Related:

• Update on the British Steam Car Challenge 200 mph record attempt
• 1906 steam powered car land speed record is in serious danger

Although the process of making what Oxford Catalysts calls "Instant Steam" is not feasible for power generation on a large-scale, it might work well in smaller-scale energy production, like automobiles. As a matter of fact, the gasoline internal combustion engine that we all have in our cars doesn't make a great deal of sense when it comes to large-scale power production, but I digress.

Steam power was a popular option back when the automobile was in its infant stage. Because gasoline was cheap, it won out and the steam car has all but disappeared from our world. But, steam is used in many other industries as well, and the Instant Steam process is likely to be introduced first for removing gum from asphalt - which also could be considered auto-related. The next likely use would be in killing bacteria instantly in hospitals. Other potential uses include rockets and automobiles. One wonders if electric cars could use a portable steam generator as a range-extending device in a vehicle like the Volt. Who knows what will provide the ultimate solution for removing fossil fuels from our automobiles? Probably a combination of many things... including a return to the steam engine?

[source: Innovations Report]

Last fall, we alerted you to a land-speed record which is in serious danger of being broken. The record in question was set in 1906, and is for steam powered vehicles (like the one above). One might imagine that steam engines have not made significant advances since then, but that would be untrue. As a matter of fact, steam engines have made huge strides since that record was set, and it's about time that the record books are re-written.

Potential environmental benefits of using steam power become evident when you consider the fact that steam powered engines are capable on running off the heat of any combustible material, and the combustion actually takes place outside of the engine, which is referred to as "external combustion" as opposed to the more common internal combustion engine which powers just about every vehicle on today's roads. Click below for more information.

Related:

• 1906 steam powered car land speed record is in serious danger
• Aerodynamic JCB Dieselmax broke land speed record without wind tunnel testing
• Steam powered bikes in Make magazine

[Source: British Steam Car Challenge via Gizmag]