No, compressed oxygen cannot be used directly as a fuel to power a car's engine. The fundamental reason is that oxygen is not a fuel itself; it is an oxidizer. A fuel is a substance that releases energy when burned, while an oxidizer (like oxygen) is the agent that supports the combustion process. For a car to run, it needs both a fuel source, such as gasoline or hydrogen, and an oxidizer to burn it. Trying to use pure oxygen in a standard internal combustion engine would result in uncontrollably intense and dangerous combustion, likely destroying the engine.
The concept often gets confused with systems that use liquid oxygen, like rockets, or with hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. In a hydrogen fuel cell car, oxygen from the air is combined with stored hydrogen to create electricity, powering the vehicle. The hydrogen is the fuel; the oxygen is the crucial reactant. Storing large quantities of pure oxygen in a passenger vehicle is also a significant safety hazard due to its extreme flammability and the high pressure required for compression.
A more practical application of stored oxygen in vehicles is in specialized racing, like Top Fuel dragsters, which sometimes inject a nitromethane and oxygen mix for immense power. However, for everyday cars, the technology is neither safe nor efficient. The future of automotive propulsion lies in advanced batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and sustainable hydrogen fuel systems, not in using oxygen as a primary fuel.
| Aspect | Compressed Oxygen | Gasoline | Hydrogen Fuel |
|---|
| Primary Role | Oxidizer (Supports combustion) | Fuel (Energy source) | Fuel (Energy source) |
| Energy Density | Zero (Provides no inherent energy) | High (approx. 34.2 MJ/L) | High by mass, low by volume (needs compression) |
| Storage Pressure | Very High (2,000-3,000+ psi) | Atmospheric (in a tank) | Extremely High (5,000-10,000 psi) |
| Safety Concern | Extreme fire hazard, promotes intense burning | Flammable | Highly flammable, requires leak-proof systems |
| Vehicle Application | Not viable as fuel; used in rocketry as oxidizer | Standard Internal Combustion Engines | Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) |
