Alaeddin Qassemi is an Iranian scientist. He was widely acknowledged for having introduced an innovative, eco-friendly, water-fueled car.[1]
In 2016, he went viral and made headlines all over the world for activating and running his Peugeot-branded car using water from his garden hose.[2] Qassemi insisted that power was generated when water molecules (H2O) was split into hydrogen and oxygen. Therefore, such a water hydrolysis process eventually spiraled into the creation of a chemical reaction that produced the sufficient energy required to power the car engine.[3] He claimed that his water-powered car produced zero air pollution and instead only emitted water vapor. The car was deemed to have a maximum capacity of 60 liters of water and could travel up to 900 km in 10 hours.[4]
His creative thinking, inventions, and paradigm shift approach became talk of the town. However, it also irked some prominent scientists, who all questioned Qassemi's thought process and whether he applied the fundamental principles regarding the manner in which he claimed that his car could operate using water. His invention also drew eyebrows, especially from the existence of high-profile energy companies, as the invention came about as a matter of threat given the global advocacy to deal with global warming and climate change mechanisms. Qassemi faced significant challenges and threats, with pressure coming from the energy companies that demanded he withdraw his invention from being commercialized.[5]