Can Salt Water Generate and Store Electricity for Cars?

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SUMMARY

This discussion centers on the feasibility of using salt water to generate and store electricity for automotive applications. Participants highlight that hydrogen can be produced via electrolysis from water, including salt water, but the efficiency of converting electricity to mechanical energy is approximately 50%. It is noted that traditional batteries do not utilize salt water as a primary component. The conversation also touches on the impracticality of synthesizing petrol from scratch, emphasizing the challenges in using salt water for energy storage in vehicles.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electrolysis and hydrogen production
  • Knowledge of fuel cell technology
  • Familiarity with energy conversion efficiency metrics
  • Basic concepts of battery chemistry
NEXT STEPS
  • Research hydrogen production methods via electrolysis
  • Explore fuel cell technology and its applications in vehicles
  • Investigate energy conversion efficiencies in electric and mechanical systems
  • Study battery chemistry and alternative energy storage solutions
USEFUL FOR

Engineers, automotive researchers, and anyone interested in alternative energy solutions for vehicles.

gunguy702
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Hello,
First of all this is a fun sidetrack thing. I'm looking for the safest and most efficient molecule that could be split or combined or some way to produce force.Could it be put in a motor-type device and therefore be used as a motor?BTW, this is for like a car.Could Salt Water produce electricity that could be stored in a battery and therefore be in a car?
 
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I think you have some mechanism in mind which does not work, but your question is a bit vague.

You can produce hydrogen via electrolysis and store it to power a fuel cell afterwards - I think the efficiency electric->electric is something like ~50%. Electric->mechanical is close to 100%, that does not matter much.
Batteries use other chemical components, but not salt water (why salt water?).
Petrol and oxygen can be used in a motor, too - it is impractical to produce petrol from scratch, but it can be made out of (parts of) oil of course.
 
gunguy702 said:
Hello,
First of all this is a fun sidetrack thing. I'm looking for the safest and most efficient molecule that could be split or combined or some way to produce force.Could it be put in a motor-type device and therefore be used as a motor?BTW, this is for like a car.Could Salt Water produce electricity that could be stored in a battery and therefore be in a car?

Are you thinking in terms of the mechanism that operates in our muscles?
 

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