A real car that actually runs on air

[Onlooker]

This is incredible. If this thing really works as well as it's described, it could revolutionize the world, and I bet the technology could be applied to other products as well.

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Air_car_runs_on_compressed_air_0104.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4hs607eNYQ

[panzerfaust]

1. cool

crashworthiness?

[Deja Q]

2. Given, 20 years ago, gas automobiles had 50MPG+...

and were crushed like beer cans, their chassis infrastructures were redesigned with heavier components. Hence the drop in MPG.

And given how people think driving is a privilege, go drink and drive, cell and drive, speed when they want, stop when they want, not bother to use their turn signals, not bother to check any of the brake or other lights (they're the best to get behind on the road... not), more people understandably want a bit of safety.

Tata's air car (I didn't read the article; I know Tata has been working on the concept for some time) is nice in theory, but since drivers are too busy, selfish, or stupid, safety concerns are here to stay.

[Kip Humphrey]

3. I want one! $5,180 to buy; $.02442 per mile to operate!

[Union Thug]

4. Those cheese-eating surrender monkeys! Have they no sympathy

for those poor, ailing oil barons? How dare they come up with an economical and environmentally friendly vehicle!!!

As for crash-worthiness - I ride a motorcycle and drive around an old Austin Healey Sprite. No fear! :-)

[Naturyl]

5. This will never be seen in America.

125 miles for $3? The oil companies will stamp it out of existence.

Although they won't have much work to do, because Americans wouldn't drive this anyway. Too green, sissy, hippie, etc.

[Prefer]

6. Wow - you mean it consumes air like gasoline?

Or is this just a misleading headline and it actually takes another form of energy to compress air.

[unpossibles]

8. Well, air can be compressed with a variety of other energies

gas is gas.

I'm not sure I get what you're saying. Do you mean that until we have 100% solar or wind (or whatever), we should not ever consider other technologies for cars?

[Selatius]

12. It should only be considered a partial solution, not the total deal. Think about it.

If it takes electricity to run a compressor that pumps the car full of air, the question is how that electricity is generated? By burning coal? Crude oil? Natural gas? Nuclear? Solar? You get the picture. If the amount of energy that it takes to fill it up is less than what it takes to fill up a gasoline-powered car, that's a step in the right direction and should be taken. I'm not saying it should be abandoned as an idea, but at the same time, we should avoid the mistaken notion that it's a magic bullet solution and weigh it simply on its own merits.

[unpossibles]

18. I agree that this and other electric car technologies should be a part of the solution

but I also feel that as more people are trying to support solar/wind/other forms of electricity generation, that too will grow. I think it's a pretty neat idea, and no it's not a magic bullet, but I also hate to see people bag on new ideas when I feel they are not looking at longer term potential.

Personally, I feel that more efficient solar and better electricity storage are going to be the key in breaking our gas habit, but this is an interesting side solution which may lead to other ideas, either as a main propellent or as something else.

[EOTE]

23. No ifs, ands or buts about it.

You question if the energy it takes to fill up is less than it takes to fill up a gasoline-powered car, it's obvious from the article that it's much less. They say that a $3 fill-up is capable of covering a 125 mile distance. As of now, that's greater than the equivalent of 125 mpg. Unless the companies selling the compressed air are doing so at a loss, which doesn't seem to be likely. No one is suggesting that a car like this is a panacea for our energy problems, but if it does work as described, then it's a fantastic short term solution that could become a long term answer for the future if we allow it.

[Old Codger]

9. has to

(quote)
"Or is this just a misleading headline and it actually takes another form of energy to compress air. "

Absolutely has to use something to compress the air, my guess (sic) would be electricity.

[Phillycat]

22. Yes, but there will be no emissions.

That is a SERIOUS improvement.

[wtmusic]

7. "Runs on air" is not quite accurate

It runs on the energy used to compress the air, so air is acting as a storage medium.

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but it's useful to look at the efficiency chain of solutions like this. The energy was electrical at some point. Why not eliminate waste energy generated by the compressor and make practical electrical cars instead?

The main problems they are wrestling with are the same ones hydrogen fuel cell researchers are -- a high weight/energy ratio and safety.

But any alternative to oil IMO is promising. And as I've said many times, I love to be proven wrong.

[Tektonik]

21. In France, there's so many alternative fuel sources being utilized

so that this car will likely be environmentally friendly. Now if we ever start producing gas tanks with energy from coal or oil, then that's blockheaded.

[Canuckistanian]

10. Air!

Wow, air is everywhere, isn't it? And still free, too! Tax that, government!! Ha HA!

Now, how do we get all that air compressed?

Um, er...I guess we need.... some energy.... I guess.

Oh, well, someone else can worry about that little detail.

But air is free!

[Ineedchange]

11. Nice Story, to bad

this car will never be sold in the U.S.A. The big three auto makers getting kicked by ToyoTa will keep the car off our streets.

"BBC News is reporting that a French company has developed a pollution-free car which runs on compressed air. India's Tata Motors has the car under production and it may be on sale in Europe and India by the end of the year..."

[RC]

13. No wonder PT Bartum was such a success.

Look at all the marks that fall for this even though this has been posted on DU twice before.

[NV Whino]

14. I think you misunderestimate DU

If you have actually read the posts, we all are aware that it takes other energy to compress the air. And as many have stated, it is part of the solution, not the magic, cure all, wand.

[RC]

16. See post 15. I stand by what I said.

Compressed air will not move a 1500+ pound car very far. The efficiency of compressed air are far to low to be of any help to reduce out dependence on oil. Add something that burns to it, then you will have something.

[EOTE]

24. Without a torque converter, I'd imagine that weight won't have...

much of an effect on range. I'm assuming that a car like this wouldn't have a torque converter as the compressed air itself is 'elastic' enough not to require it. So I'm guessing the car's gearing would have a much greater effect on range than its weight. Acceleration is another thing though. The heavier it is, the slower it will be to accelerate. If they can keep the weight under a ton though, I'd imagine acceleration could be decent enough.

[catnhatnh]

15. Does anyone realize that a simple windmill could drive a compressor?

Not for all uses but used where the car was parked at night...A simple remote gauge in the house could be checked in the morning to verify "charge" state and the need, if any, to fire up your on grid compressor.

[wuushew]

17. Compressed air will never compete with batteries and electric drive motors

Regenerative braking, flexible component placement and higher efficiency work decidedly against air cars.

[Tyler Durden]

19. I just want the damned thing to COMMUTE TO WORK.

I commute 52 miles round trip, and D does over 60.

I DON'T NEED TO DRIVE TO CLEVELAND, JUST ST. JOHNS MICHIGAN FROM OWOSSO.

AND I've been posting about The Air Car since 2001.

[Tektonik]

20. This is encouraging

Since a large company such as TATA is behind the project now, we may actually see this car on our soil.