Stanley Meyer, an inventor who passed away in 1998, is best remembered for his extraordinary claim—he allegedly created a dune buggy that could run on water.
Meyer asserted that he had developed an engine capable of functioning solely on water, a groundbreaking innovation if it had been successfully realized. Several theories exist regarding how he claimed to have achieved this.
One explanation suggests that he designed a fuel cell capable of splitting water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. This process would allow hydrogen to be used as fuel. According to Meyer, his engine could separate these elements, burn the hydrogen to generate energy, and emit only oxygen and minimal water residue as byproducts.
Such an invention would have been revolutionary, potentially disrupting the oil industry. Given its implications, it is understandable that not everyone would have welcomed an environmentally friendly water-powered engine.
Meyer’s mysterious death in 1998 fueled speculation. His brother reported that while having lunch, Meyer suddenly clutched his throat, collapsed, and allegedly exclaimed, “They poisoned me.”
However, a toxicology report following the investigation found no evidence of poisoning based on known substances in American science. The official cause of death was determined to be an aneurysm, with the coroner ruling it a case of “natural causes.”
Despite this, conspiracy theories persist. Discussions on platforms like Reddit have explored the topic, with some commenters explaining why such technology has long been a subject of fascination.
One commenter noted that myths surrounding “water-powered cars” and “100-miles-per-gallon carburetors” gained significant attention in the 1980s and 1990s. While it is technically possible to run a car on water—by extracting hydrogen—or to achieve high fuel efficiency, major limitations exist. The energy required to produce hydrogen outweighs the energy gained from burning it, and a highly efficient carburetor may not generate enough power to be practical.
These theories remain popular because they contain a kernel of truth, making them compelling to those unfamiliar with the technical challenges involved.
