EPISODE · Mar 26, 2025 · 19 MIN
EP33 The Forgotten Future: Steam Cars
from AutoKnerd · host AutoKnerd
Imagine if every morning commute required firing up a boiler, watching a pressure gauge, and possibly losing your eyebrows in a steam-related mishap—sound crazy? Well, it almost happened! This week on AutoKnerd, we dive headfirst into the wonderfully strange and largely forgotten world of steam-powered cars. From Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot’s crash-prone invention to the ridiculously impressive Stanley and Doble steamers, we’ll explore a reality where brass replaced plastic, steam replaced gas, and “waiting for pressure” replaced road rage. Whether you’re selling cutting-edge cars or just nerding out on automotive oddities, this episode offers hilarious insights into how innovation, convenience, and common sense don’t always arrive in the same vehicle. Subscribe now so you don’t miss your weekly dose of automotive madness—and maybe you’ll learn exactly how not to pitch a car that takes 30 minutes to start.
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What this episode covers
Episode 33 of AutoKnerd, titled “Steam Cars: The Forgotten Future,” takes listeners on an entertaining journey through an alternate automotive history, where steam-powered cars almost became our modern reality. The episode dives into the quirky origins of steam vehicles, from Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot’s legendary first automobile crash to the powerful and innovative Stanley and Doble steamers that dominated early automotive innovation. It humorously explores the daily practicalities—and impracticalities—of steam power, offering a playful look at what today’s world might have been like if steam had triumphed over gasoline. Finally, the episode draws insightful parallels between the skepticism around steam cars of the past and modern-day hesitation toward technologies like electric vehicles, highlighting lessons in innovation and adaptability for automotive professionals and history enthusiasts alike.
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EP33 The Forgotten Future: Steam Cars
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