Steam-powered automobiles

Steam cars were common in the early days of the automobile, in part because so many artisans and operators had prior expertise with steam engines. Early steam automobiles were produced by Ransom E. Olds, the creator of the renowned REO Speedwagon and the founder of Oldsmobile. The Stanley Steamer, made by the Stanley Brothers, is arguably the most well-known steam-powered automobile.

Steamers frequently prevailed in races against conventionally propelled automobiles. However, they had a number of drawbacks, including the fact that some of them required lengthy startup times. They were not recommended for use in an emergency since the boiler needed to build enough steam pressure. Their demise was signaled by Henry Ford's Model T, as it was for many other rival automakers. In 1930, the last steam automobile sold commercially in America came off the assembly line.

But as automakers look for alternatives to the internal combustion engine as their main power source, steam appears set for a comeback. Corporations like Volkswagen, Honda, Toyota, and smaller research organizations have created steam engines that do away with the quirks of their forebears. Modern materials are utilized by advances in steam technology to create improved steam condensers, boilers, and throttle control systems.

Although no major automaker is making any significant attempts as of this writing to develop a modern steam-powered car, research into these vehicles is still ongoing. A British team created a steam-powered vehicle in 2009 that set a record for a steam engine vehicle by reaching a top speed of 148 miles per hour.