Steam power was a no-brainer around the turn of the century. You could use anything that would burn as fuel; the steam engine was purely mechanical and had few moving parts; and steam power provided instantaneous torque, eliminating the need for gears, and allowing a vehicle to climb hills in a snap. By 1900, there were about 100 firms building steam cars in the United States. Half of the 2000 cars on the road were powered by steam, and the most popular of the American steam cars was the Stanley Steamer.