How far can a steam car go?

The 1924 model Doble Series E steam car could run for 1,500 miles (2,400 km) before its 24-gallon water tank needed to be refilled; even in freezing weather, it could be started from cold and move off within 30 seconds, and once fully warmed could be relied upon to reach speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour (140 km/h) ...

Why don t we use steam cars?

By the 1850s it was viable to produce them commercially: steam road vehicles were used for many applications. Development was hampered by adverse legislation from the 1860s as well as the rapid development of internal combustion engine technology in the 1900s, leading to the commercial demise of steam-powered vehicles.

How far can a steam engine go on a tank of water?

During the very early days of steam locomotives, water stops were necessary every 7–10 miles (11–16 km) and consumed much travel time. With the introduction of tenders (a special car containing water and fuel), trains could run 100–150 miles (160–240 km) without a refill.

Do steam cars need gas?

Even though a vehicle that is supposedly steam-powered sounds eco-friendlier than traditional gas-powered vehicles, they actually aren't much different. According to How Stuff Works, steam-powered engines, which have external combustion engines, actually run on fuel, just like any other car.

What was the most powerful steam car?

At the other end of the steam era are cars like Leno's sophisticated ex-Howard Hughes 1925 E-20 Doble, which can hold its own on the highway. Leno has called the Doble “the greatest steam car ever built”—it had around 150 horsepower, but also 1,000 foot-pounds of torque from rest.

Steam Car Challenge

What fuel do steam cars use?

Operating a steam car took several steps. These included checking the water level in the boiler, priming and igniting the fuel source (usually kerosene), and waiting until the pressure allowed the engine to run. Since this process could take more than a half hour, there was no running a quick errand into town!

Are steam engines more powerful than gas?

By zealously reusing every possible bit of heat, steam engines can convert up to 46 percent of incoming energy into torque. Most gas-powered internal combustion engines, in contrast, are only about 25 percent efficient.

What is the disadvantage of steam car?

A major disadvantage is that a steam car has to "fire up" its boiler (has to get up to operating temperature). This can take as much as 20 minutes before the car can move. In the winter there was the added problem of water freezing.

What is the speed record for a steam car?

The longest standing steam Land Speed Record was set in 1906. With driver Fred Marriot at the wheel, the Stanley Steamer managed 127.659 mph.

Could steam cars make a comeback?

As of today, though, neither engine has found its way into a commercial vehicle. Moving forward, it's unlikely that steam cars will ever unseat the internal combustion engine, if only because of the massive momentum of Big Oil.

How hot can a steam engine get?

Saturated steam from an HP steam generator was pumped through HP superheater tubes which lined the firebox. There it was superheated to about 900 °F (482 °C) and the pressure raised to 1,700 psi (11.72 MPa).

How much does a steam engine cost?

Each one cost approximately $265,000 to build, or about $4.4 million in today's money. In the railroad world, the Big Boys were known as 4-8-8-4 articulated type locomotives.

What happens if a steam engine runs out of water?

If a steam locomotive runs-out of water while it is operating, either the firebox plug will melt (which is embarrassing for the fireman / driver and expensive to fix), or steam pressure will rise extremely quickly until either more water is supplied, or the boiler explodes.

How much horsepower did a steam car have?

Thus Stanley cars were rated as 10, 20, and 30 horsepower even though a typical 20-horsepower car's steam engine was capable of developing nearly 125 horsepower. Steam cars unitize an external combustion (Rankine cycle) engine where the fuel source is consumed external to the engine.

Are steam cars safe?

Steam-powered automobiles were popular with early buyers. Steam was safe, reliable, and familiar. People had decades of experience with it in trains and boats, and even in experimental road vehicles. But early steam cars required constant care and attention--and up to 30 minutes to start.

When was the last steam car made?

The last steam-powered cars were made in 1904. The company lasted until the 1950s. Robert Dudgeon of New York made a steam-powered carriage to take his family to church. The carriage was described as noisy and costly to run.

Which steam engine went 100 mph first?

It all began on this day in 1934. Then, the “Flying Scotsman” became the first steam locomotive to be officially recorded reaching 100 mph, during the 393-mile trip for London and Edinbugh.

How fast was the old steam engine?

The combination of the steam engine and the rail at the beginning of the 19th century contributed tremendously to man's possibilities of high-speed travel. As early as 1854, trains travelled at a commercial speed of about 60 km/h, as against 6.5 km/h for the stage coaches of 1840.

How fast were steam engines in the 1800s?

When Englishman Richard Trevithick launched the first practical steam locomotive in 1804, it averaged less than 10 mph. Today, several high-speed rail lines are regularly traveling 30 times as fast.

Do steam trains have gears?

The steam locomotive, as commonly employed, has its pistons directly attached to cranks on the driving wheels; thus, there is no gearing, one revolution of the driving wheels is equivalent to one revolution of the crank and thus two power strokes per piston (steam locomotives are almost universally double-acting, ...

Are steam engines clean?

Steam engines of course burn coal, and coal is dirty. There is no way it can be “cleaned” on board a train. But nor is generating electricity entirely carbon-free. The total amount of carbon at issue is minimal, and almost all its pollution is outside towns.

Do steam cars pollute?

Steam boilers can burn fuel more thoroughly than a standard internal combustion engine, leading to cleaner exhaust that is mostly water and carbon dioxide. At the time, that was seen as an improvement. Some of the cities battling pollution from automobile exhaust added steam-powered buses to their fleets.

Why are steam engines no longer used?

Steam locomotives are no longer used to transport passengers or products because electric and diesel locomotives are faster, more efficient, and easier to maintain. The locomotives that are still running are a piece of history dating back to the 1800's that really put into perspective just how far we've come!

Are diesels better than steam engines?

Firstly the diesel engine has an impressively high thermal efficiency - with modern diesel engines achieving 45% efficiency compared to a steam engines 10% giving them to achieve greater distances between refuelling stops.

What replaced steam engines?

It wasn't until 1940 that the Electro Motive Division of General Motors (EMD) demonstrated that diesels could practically replace steam locomotives in heavy-duty service. A pioneer freight diesel, model "FT," toured the nation's railroads and changed history.