World's First Air-Powered Car: Zero Emissions by Next Summer

[BillCosby]

India’s largest automaker is set to start producing the world’s first commercial air-powered vehicle. The Air Car, developed by ex-Formula One engineer Guy Nègre for Luxembourg-based MDI, uses compressed air, as opposed to the gas-and-oxygen explosions of internal-combustion models, to push its engine’s pistons. Some 6000 zero-emissions Air Cars are scheduled to hit Indian streets in August of 2008.

Barring any last-minute design changes on the way to production, the Air Car should be surprisingly practical. The $12,700 CityCAT, one of a handful of planned Air Car models, can hit 68 mph and has a range of 125 miles. It will take only a few minutes for the CityCAT to refuel at gas stations equipped with custom air compressor units; MDI says it should cost around $2 to fill the car’s carbon-fiber tanks with 340 liters of air at 4350 psi. Drivers also will be able to plug into the electrical grid and use the car’s built-in compressor to refill the tanks in about 4 hours.

Of course, the Air Car will likely never hit American shores, especially considering its all-glue construction. But that doesn’t mean the major automakers can write it off as a bizarre Indian experiment — MDI has signed deals to bring its design to 12 more countries, including Germany, Israel and South Africa.

[jowey]

125 miles not too far but it would be good for city driving....

[DanS.]

Isn't it just another version of the electric car? Does it matter whether electricity is being used to charge batteries or to run an air compressor? Air compressors eat HUGE amounts of electricity...

actually I'd think that the electric car would even be better than this since you always get less energy out than you put it....and it you think about it that way...it goes coal > electricity > air compressor > car...just adds another component to the equation....

[DanS.]

I'll also add that compressed air is notorious for leaking...so maintaining the stations would be a huge pain in the ass along with the vehicle...small pinhole leak somewhere and you'll be out an entire tank of air....

If there was a small leak at the station the compressors would be continuously turning off and on...alot like your water heater...very inefficient.

[disfigured]

I'll also add that compressed air is notorious for leaking...so maintaining the stations would be a huge pain in the ass along with the vehicle...small pinhole leak somewhere and you'll be out an entire tank of air....

If there was a small leak at the station the compressors would be continuously turning off and on...alot like your water heater...very inefficient.

The "stations" don't need to store compressed air, they need a large compressor to compress the air into the car's tank.

Hence the shorter fill up time compared to the compressor in the car.

[DanS.]

The "stations" don't need to store compressed air, they need a large compressor to compress the air into the car's tank.

Hence the shorter fill up time compared to the compressor in the car.

If there is not a tank to store the compressed air, it would take longer to fill a tank...and then it only confirms what I said about having to turn on and off...that consumes more energy...whereas if they stored it in a tank the compressors could run fewer cycles...

[jowey]

actually I'd think that the electric car would even be better than this since you always get less energy out than you put it....and it you think about it that way...it goes coal > electricity > air compressor > car...just adds another component to the equation....

Electrics might have a problem also, Copper....
The compressed air might work, they can have a staging tank for the compressor to "fill" over time, like the water systems for wells.....

[VKMHVM2]

Mexico City is already using the compressed air car. If you combine this with nuclear energy for cheap electricity, then all of our energy problems will be solved.

Howstuffworks "How Air-Powered Cars Will Work"

Using a household electrical source, it takes about four hours to refill the compressed air tanks. However, a rapid three-minute recharge is possible, using a high-pressure air pump.

[Jonesy]

I would think the oil crisis will be gone when we have a full military solution. Can our tanks run on compressed air?

Would help for a while though, regardless. Less oil for cars, more for tanks. Maybe in conjunction with hybrid tricks, this compressed-air method can be a viable temporary solution?

[GurnBlanston]

Maybe I should've posted this in Science instead of Environment.