STEAM POWER EXTRAORDINAIRE. When fuel cell supporters tout the technology's efficiency and cleanliness, they can't help but mention that the only "byproduct" produced is water. Big deal. There's a new engine out there that runs on water. If you haven't guessed by now, it's a steam engine. The company that created this technology is Enginion, a wholly owned subsidiary of IAV, a German engine research and development firm located in Berlin. The engine is called "Ezee", for "Equal Zero Emission Engine." And, says company president Michael Hoetger, "its production price is expected to be equal to or lower than current powertrains."
If this isn't the stuff of fairy tales, consider this: The three cylinder test engine is a two-stroke displacing 1.0 liters, and capable of producing up to 500 NM (400 lb.-ft.) of torque. Oh, and it weighs about 265 lb., can fit under the hood of a compact car, and the combustion technology is adaptable to most any piston or rotary engine architecture.
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