Air-Powered Car Coming to U.S. in 2009 to 2010 at Sub-$18,000, Could Hit 1000-Mile Ra

[Carole]

There have been alternatives to oil and gas for years. It just requires people with vision to invent them.

Walt Disney was such a visionary for example.

Interesting reading.

Air-Powered Car Coming to U.S. in 2009 to 2010 at Sub-$18,000, Could Hit 1000-Mile Range

http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4251491.html?series=19

 

[acptulsa]

Cute. Compressed air has been used to move many a steam locomotive, and in fact there were "fireless" steam locomotives over the years to work tunnels and such that took their steam from a stationary boiler. No, hardly a new concept.

This is another one of those concepts that is only as green as the source of external power. Run your air compressor off of electricity from a hydroelectric plant and you're spewing nothing--except, of course, for that once-compressed air.

The nice thing is the air tank is bound to be considerably lighter than the rack of batteries in an electric.

 

[fr33domfightr]

These are very kewl. Now we can "stick it to the man."


FF

 

[pcosmar]

In a very limited role and short distance urban setting this may have some use.
I seriously doubt the real application and claimed power output.

I regularly use compressed air to run tools. I am aware of the power needed to compress air and how much air the tools use.
Once again this is an energy storage medium and NOT A FUEL.
http://pcosmar.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html

 

[Paul.Bearer.of.Injustice]

I wonder how many equivalent gallons of gas it takes to run the compressor to fill the car's tank.
It's probably more energy efficient than a combustion engine, but I question how much.

 

[acroso]

So...how many mpg?

How big is its tank!

 

[CoreyBowen999]

So...how many mpg?

How big is its tank!

Didn't it say in there that for a tank of air and 8 gallons of fuel, you can get 800-1000 miles

 

[Mahkato]

I wonder how many equivalent gallons of gas it takes to run the compressor to fill the car's tank.
It's probably more energy efficient than a combustion engine, but I question how much.

It seems to make a lot more sense to have one nuclear power plant generating the electricity to run 1,000,000 air compressors (at night, when demand is low) than it is to have 1,000,000 gasoline powered internal combustion engines, each weighing 500+ lbs, and each of which must be individually fueled and maintained, driving themselves all over the country.

 

[Alex Libman]

I always knew there were countless economical alternatives to energy production and storage. What I find depressing, however, is that it's India (and with some technologies South Korea and Japan) who are taking the technological lead here. America had every advantage going into the 21st century, and it blew it.


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[Off-topic section removed by Moderator]

 

[pcosmar]

It seems to make a lot more sense to have one nuclear power plant generating the electricity to run 1,000,000 air compressors (at night, when demand is low) than it is to have 1,000,000 gasoline powered internal combustion engines, each weighing 500+ lbs, and each of which must be individually fueled and maintained, driving themselves all over the country.

That is possible.
Do you have an estimate of the time it would take to put all that in place.
All of the Air resupply stations, the infrastructure and vehicles.
Who is going to produce a million vehicles that have no means of refueling?
Who is going to place all these refuel stations (with all necessary investment) when there is only prototype vehicles?
That is the Catch 22.

That same nuclear plant could produce Hydrogen as well, and existing cars and homes could easily (and inexpensively) be retrofitted to use it.
The same drawback exists though, The supply infrastructure.

 

[driller80545]

That is possible.
Do you have an estimate of the time it would take to put all that in place.
All of the Air resupply stations, the infrastructure and vehicles.
Who is going to produce a million vehicles that have no means of refueling?
Who is going to place all these refuel stations (with all necessary investment) when there is only prototype vehicles?
That is the Catch 22.

That same nuclear plant could produce Hydrogen as well, and existing cars and homes could easily (and inexpensively) be retrofitted to use it.
The same drawback exists though, The supply infrastructure.

I understand the truth of what you are saying here, but someone must take the lead before too much longer. Someone should figure the return on such an investment (probably already been done) and present it to the people with the means before the government decides to do it.
I would like to invest my little bit in either one of these ideas because I believe that something is going to take off like wildfire soon. How to get the bandwagon started seems to be the hardest hurdle to leap right now.

 

[pcosmar]

I understand the truth of what you are saying here, but someone must take the lead before too much longer. Someone should figure the return on such an investment (probably already been done) and present it to the people with the means before the government decides to do it.
I would like to invest my little bit in either one of these ideas because I believe that something is going to take off like wildfire soon. How to get the bandwagon started seems to be the hardest hurdle to leap right now.

There is progress towards Hydrogen. there are a couple refueling stations, and there will be more.
If you have means of investing, I would suggest setting up to refit vehicles.
Look at the LP gas conversions that are already available, make lots more.
From LP/Propane to Hydrogen is only a small adjustment. (fuel metering, timing).
If you are well off and can make a large long term investment, land and equiptment for fuel storage and delivery.

Me, I'm just a poor farmer. But I can turn wrenches if you want a conversion done.
I used to build these propane powered vehicles.

 

[theantirobot]

I'm pretty sure these cars are in production in india right now. Although theirs are just compressed air, get about 100 miles on a charge, and a top speed of 68mph.

Let's get the cost of these things down to $3,000 and start a Revolution!

 

[SLSteven]

Hot Air? .... Is Obama behind this?

 

[driller80545]

No, I can't invest enough to do anybody any good. I am a good mechanic out of necessity. I am frustrated because I know what you are saying is true and I don't want to see the public lose interest again. I feel like the time is ripe, if someone will take even one of these good ideas and develop it. I guess profit will have to be the motive since environmental destruction hasn't seemed to spur any speculators. With prices so high and the future seeming so bleak, I hope some greedy corp will start the ball rolling.

 

[Paul.Bearer.of.Injustice]

It's not even worth investing in a technology like this since you never know what legislation is coming down the pipeline in this socialist hellhole that will totally screw you after 10 years of intensive R&D. This car will probably need to double its weight to pass side-impact tests, thus negating any energy efficiency advantage it has over standard vehicles.

 

[driller80545]

It's not even worth investing in a technology like this since you never know what legislation is coming down the pipeline in this socialist hellhole that will totally screw you after 10 years of intensive R&D. This car will probably need to double its weight to pass side-impact tests, thus negating any energy efficiency advantage it has over standard vehicles.

Point taken

 

[SLSteven]

It's not even worth investing in a technology like this since you never know what legislation is coming down the pipeline in this socialist hellhole that will totally screw you after 10 years of intensive R&D. This car will probably need to double its weight to pass side-impact tests, thus negating any energy efficiency advantage it has over standard vehicles.

exactly!

 

[pcosmar]

There is a lot going on in these fields.
Fuel storage being one.
This is a good article that explains some of the problems/solutions being worked on.
fuel storage
http://www.rps.psu.edu/hydrogen/form.html

Fuel cells are another. This may or may not be the best way to use it, but it seems to be the direction of research.
I have my own opinions. I would like to see conversions.
But I am still hopeful, and watching the progress.

 

[steph3n]

I don't want to burst anyones bubble, but popmech and popsci have been touting many future items that NEVER make it, like the low cost flying cars, they have been on the cover 5+ times over the last 50 years never to make it to production.