The sea-powered car is an invention that was theorized decades ago and could leave electricity or hydrogen far behind. Imagine using an inexhaustible and renewable resource to decarbonize our mobility. That is precisely what we have just started to do, with a brand that has even engineers upside down for its innovation.
This is the first-powered car: innovation reachs one of its last-known limits
The Quant e-Sportlimousine is a revolutionary new car that is the first in the world to be powered by seawater. Developed by the German company Quant, this electric vehicle runs on an electrolyte flow cell power system fueled solely by saltwater.
By taking advantage of the natural conductivity of seawater, the Quant e-Sportlimousine generates its own electricity onboard to power the car. This breakthrough technology marks a significant advancement in electric vehicles, proving for the first time that a practical car can be powered by the virtually unlimited energy stored in seawater.
While electric and hydrogen fuel cell cars have grown in popularity and feasibility in recent years, they are still limited by the need to recharge batteries or refuel hydrogen tanks. The Quant e-Sportlimousine overcomes these limitations by tapping into the endless oceans as an energy source.
By being the first car capable of literally driving on saltwater, the Quant e-Sportlimousine represents a conceptual leap in electric vehicle engineering. Its seawater power system points towards a sustainable transportation future powered by the most abundant resource on Earth.
A glimpse to Quant-e Sportlimousine car: the first that works with the sea
The Quant e-Sportlimousine operates using a unique powertrain that harnesses the power of seawater. It utilizes an electrolysis reactor that is able to split seawater into hydrogen and oxygen through a process called electrolysis.
The hydrogen produced is then fed into the car’s fuel cells while the oxygen is released into the atmosphere. Inside the fuel cells, the hydrogen combines with oxygen from the air which generates an electrical current. This electricity is then used to power the car’s electric motors and all other electrical systems.
Essentially, the Quant e-Sportlimousine is an electric vehicle, but it generates its own electricity on demand using seawater as a fuel source rather than being plugged into the electric grid to recharge. This gives it superior range and refueling capabilities compared to most other electric vehicles.
The powertrain is entirely emission-free, with the only byproduct being pure water. The seawater fuel is considered a renewable resource, making the Quant an innovative sustainable mobility solution.
Development of the sea-powered car: a history of fail and success
The Quant e-Sportlimousine was created by nanoFLOWCELL Holdings, a research and development company based in Liechtenstein that focuses on flow cell battery and drive technology.
NanoFLOWCELL began developing the Quant e-Sportlimousine in 2014 with the goal of creating an electric vehicle powered by salt water. The company spent several years researching and testing flow cell technology before unveiling the first driveable prototype in 2014.
After extensive testing and refinement, nanoFLOWCELL revealed the final production model of the Quant e-Sportlimousine in 2018. The company touts it as the first street-legal electric vehicle powered by a flow cell battery fueled by saltwater.
Did you think it was Tesla that was going to develop the car of the future? It might have been at the time, but now we see how electricity (and even hydrogen) wasn’t everything. This sea-powered car could kill all known fuels at a stroke, mimicking the movement of the tides and being charged by the gravitational pull of the Moon.
