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Worldbuilding

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    $\begingroup$ I'd actually argue that it was the IC engine that 'got lucky'. When you consider that almost all non-renewable electricity generation (coal, nuclear, natural gas) is really just a large steam turbine, there's an argument to be made that if steam engines had been given the research and development focus that IC engines have received over the last century, we'd all be driving around in high performance steam powered cars that just take a minute or two to warm up when first started. That said, I completely agree with your answer about petrol v. alcohol. $\endgroup$ Commented May 1, 2018 at 23:29
  • $\begingroup$ @TimBII, That's a good point, which is why I mentioned that turbines were a different branch of development. High density is really only useful in highly compact applications, which is why gasoline isn't used for large non-nuclear naval vessels. However, not to continue an argument, but steam comes from heat, and that means burning something when you're a moving car, so I'm not completely convinced that it wasn't steam that got lucky. Higher energy densities will eventually win out (you don't see coal on those big ships, either). $\endgroup$ Commented May 1, 2018 at 23:59
  • $\begingroup$ These are really good points; I can see what you're saying about energy densities, especially in a mobile platform. I'm just wondering though; what about a steam powered car where the steam is generated by the heat of a petrol flame? Would that be more or less efficient than IC engines (that literally waste the heat energy)? In an accident, you'd have steam release to worry about in conjunction with fuel spills, but safety considerations aside, could the energy in the petrol be more efficiently extracted if used to power a steam turbine? $\endgroup$ Commented May 2, 2018 at 1:00
  • $\begingroup$ @TimBII, if I remember my thermodynamic classes correctly, every time you change energy types (or modes, or medium) you loose efficiency. IC is a two-stage process (combustion -> kinetic). Steam is three-stage (combustion->steam->kinetic). Does that mean it couldn't be done? Not necessarily, but considering today's "anything green at any cost" evironment, you'd think if it could be done, it would have been done. But, then again, there's so much combustion hate right now that no one may be interested if it isn't perceptually 100% renewable. (Ah, marketing...) $\endgroup$ Commented May 2, 2018 at 1:07
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    $\begingroup$ Problem with this answer is that it discuss engines, ignoring coal needed for steel production. Making coal scarce would stop revolution for reasons outside the engine issues $\endgroup$ Commented May 2, 2018 at 23:04