05-30-2006, 11:41 PM
You know, there was a time when we thought the Earth was flat, too. And that the universe revolved around us.
Time changes perception as new truths are revealed. As knowledge grows, old beliefs proven unfounded fade out. Steam, for all its worth, is inferior to internal-combustion in a lot of ways, most notably being safety. Granted, steam does have some advantages over internal-combustion, but if it was that greater a technology, it would have survived the evolution of technology. Darwin exists in much more than just nature.
See Occhi's comments on steam-powered cars. The biggest concern to steam-powered engines is safety. While it's all fine and dandy for a tractor (moving, at most, 15 MPH - in a field, without other traffic), or even a locomotive (one train per track means, again, no other traffic to worry about slamming into), it simply isn't safe enough for general use in automobiles. The risks are simply too great. Despite how explosively flammable gasoline is, the actual risk of ignition or explosion is very, very minor (outside of Hollywood, of course) compared to that of steam. If you slam into a car, it's generally built so as to make the gas tank fairly safe from rupturing, and indeed this does transfer over into the real world. Steam, however, has to be stored at extreme pressures in order to maintain viable, practical application. Because of this, ANY risk of rupture means potential explosion and almost guaranteed collateral damage to passengers, from the steam itself most likely.
It's just not safe enough for practical use in an automobile. The risk is far too great for the meger reward it brings.
Time changes perception as new truths are revealed. As knowledge grows, old beliefs proven unfounded fade out. Steam, for all its worth, is inferior to internal-combustion in a lot of ways, most notably being safety. Granted, steam does have some advantages over internal-combustion, but if it was that greater a technology, it would have survived the evolution of technology. Darwin exists in much more than just nature.
See Occhi's comments on steam-powered cars. The biggest concern to steam-powered engines is safety. While it's all fine and dandy for a tractor (moving, at most, 15 MPH - in a field, without other traffic), or even a locomotive (one train per track means, again, no other traffic to worry about slamming into), it simply isn't safe enough for general use in automobiles. The risks are simply too great. Despite how explosively flammable gasoline is, the actual risk of ignition or explosion is very, very minor (outside of Hollywood, of course) compared to that of steam. If you slam into a car, it's generally built so as to make the gas tank fairly safe from rupturing, and indeed this does transfer over into the real world. Steam, however, has to be stored at extreme pressures in order to maintain viable, practical application. Because of this, ANY risk of rupture means potential explosion and almost guaranteed collateral damage to passengers, from the steam itself most likely.
It's just not safe enough for practical use in an automobile. The risk is far too great for the meger reward it brings.
Roland *The Gunslinger*