Thread: Air-Car Ready for Mass Production

http://green.yahoo.com/index.php?q=node/315
The world's first commercial compressed air-powered vehicle is rolling towards the production line. The Air Car, developed by ex-Formula One engineer Guy Nègre, will be built by India's largest automaker, Tata Motors.

The Air Car uses compressed air to push its engine's pistons. It is anticipated that approximately 6000 Air Cars will be cruising the streets of India by 2008. If the manufacturers have no surprises up their exhaust pipes the car will be practical and reasonably priced. The CityCat model will clock out at 68 mph with a driving range of 125 miles.

Refueling is simple and will only take a few minutes. That is, if you live nearby a gas station with custom air compressor units. The cost of a fill up is approximately $2.00. If a driver doesn't have access to a compressor station, they will be able to plug into the electrical grid and use the car's built-in compressor to refill the tank in about 4 hours.

I can only imagine the amount of shielding that the government would mandate to protect the occupants and nearby citizens if the tank ever ruptured or was compromised.

But don't let anyone tell you this is an "emissions free" vehicle. Sure, the only thing coming out of the tailpipe is air. But, chances are, fossil fuels were burned to create the electricity. In India, that mostly means coal. But the carbon emissions per mile of these things still far outdoes any gasoline car on the market.

Unless they are using a hand compressor to fill the tank, they are still burning fossil fuels.
Plus, you can drive for two hours, and let it "recharge" for four.
Yuck.

Nice idea, but not practical... yet.

In very condensed suburban areas like Hong Kong, New York & Tokyo it would be a good alternative.

Definately a step in the right direction but still needs to mature a bit.

If you just needed a commuter car this would be a great option.

Funny how our strict laws/regs on crash performance would keep this model from making it here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmqpGZv0YT4

The next generation of the rotary engine is in this vid.
As an Rx-7 owner I have to say that rotary is the only way.

"laujesse" wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmqpGZv0YT4

The next generation of the rotary engine is in this vid.
As an Rx-7 owner I have to say that rotary is the only way.

yeah rotary is the way to go
:
dont get me wrong i like the rx7, but the rotary engine is expensive to fix if something goes wrong, also dont you have to use a higher octane fuel?? not to mention they sound like weed wackers.

but anyway this air car idea isnt a bad start, only downfall is that 4 hour recharge...

"UffDaVikes" wrote:

I can only imagine the amount of shielding that the government would mandate to protect the occupants and nearby citizens if the tank ever ruptured or was compromised.

People said the same thing about gas tanks when they were first being used.
I would know I was there.

"NodakPaul" wrote:

But don't let anyone tell you this is an "emissions free" vehicle. Sure, the only thing coming out of the tailpipe is air. But, chances are, fossil fuels were burned to create the electricity. In India, that mostly means coal. But the carbon emissions per mile of these things still far outdoes any gasoline car on the market.

Unless they are using a hand compressor to fill the tank, they are still burning fossil fuels.
Plus, you can drive for two hours, and let it "recharge" for four.
Yuck.

Nice idea, but not practical... yet.

There are certain areas where it would work on a small scale where they could use hydro power or wind power to run the compressors,which would be zero energy but you would be at the mercy of mother nature to produce the wind and water volume needed . Of course in the end we will be at the mercy of mother nature if we don't do anything different either so I am always on the side of trying anything we can to make the change.

I wonder if they make a model where you can just blow into and not even use the air compressor.