The Air Car - zero pollution and very low running costs

Gizmag ^ | 3-19-07 | Gizmag

[HangnJudge]

March 19, 2007 Many respected engineers have been trying for years to bring a compressed air car to market, believing strongly that compressed air can power a viable "zero pollution" car. Now the first commercial compressed air car is on the verge of production and beginning to attract a lot of attention, and with a recently signed partnership with Tata, India’s largest automotive manufacturer, the prospects of very cost-effective mass production are now a distinct possibility. The MiniC.A.T is a simple, light urban car, with a tubular chassis that is glued not welded and a body of fibreglass. The heart of the electronic and communication system on the car is a computer offering an array of information reports that extends well beyond the speed of the vehicle, and is built to integrate with external systems and almost anything you could dream of, starting with voice recognition, internet connectivity, GSM telephone connectivity, a GPS guidance system, fleet management systems, emergency systems, and of course every form of digital entertainment. The engine is fascinating, as is and the revolutionary electrical system that uses just one cable and so is the vehicle’s wireless control system. Microcontrollers are used in every device in the car, so one tiny radio transmitter sends instructions to the lights, indicators etc

Most importantly, it is incredibly cost-efficient to run – according to the designers, it costs less than one Euro per 100Km (about a tenth that of a petrol car). Its mileage is about double that of the most advanced electric car (200 to 300 km or 10 hours of driving), a factor which makes a perfect choice in cities where the 80% of motorists drive at less than 60Km. The car has a top speed of 68 mph.

[Tarpon]

Yep, those Pixies and some hamsters.

All these zero pollution solutions fall apart when you look behind the curtain. It takes less overall fuel to build and drive a hummer than it does to build and drive a hybrid -- But you feel better driving a hybrid I hear.

[HangnJudge]

I'd say we'll see how it runs through commercialization

Agree

[appeal2]

Aren't they the world's leading manufacturer of air guitars.

[weaponeer]

27.4 kW * 12.5 hours = 343 kW-h.

Any idea how much air at what pressure it would take to store that much energy as compressed air? I'm not sure of the conversion factors or the efficiency, but I envision a pretty big high pressure tank.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Your calculations seem to be based on the force required for acceleration, rather than the force required to keep the vehicle moving.

[Nuc1]

Very interesting. I tried to get to gizmag via the link but couldn't get it to load. With that exhaust temp, summer AC is probably a cinch. I wonder about winter heat. Just curious I know it would be taken care of in a production car. At 6'4" 300 lbs I wonder if I would fit? For the right price I would consider it for a go to work / shopping vehicle. With the money I save I could build that Cobra I want.

[weaponeer]

Once accelerated to speed, the energy to keep it moving would be related to speed (drag) and weight/rolling resistance, would it not?

[bikerMD]

Engineers and scientists in Bangdadash released their beta design for the AIR plane, anticpated to use virtually no fuel. It's ultra light weight and needs little landing space. (;^D)

[HangnJudge]

Probably the vast majority of people in India are short of 6'4", 300#

[rlmorel]

Wow. You aren't kidding. I live in Massachusetts, and we have the reputation of being the worst, but those NJ and NY drivers ARE the worst.

I drove down to the Gathering of Eagles, and we saw dozens of accidents last Friday. Just outrageous.

[delacoert]

Made by Tata motors, India's largest car maker

Tata is just another word for boob - seems appropriate somehow.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Does it look like a big balloon car?

[HangnJudge]

Cool, I want one

[SauronOfMordor]

Let this get into 1 accident and buy a new one.

Given the amount of pressure in the compressed air tank, anything that put a crack in the tank will mean replacing the car, the driver, the passengers, and pretty-much anything within a block of the resulting bang

[dynachrome]

"make use of off-peak electricity"
Wouldn't remain off peak for long!

[Nuc1]

Probably so. I always seem to be on the wrong side of the curve. :D)

[HangnJudge]

Any idea how much air at what pressure it would take to store that much energy as compressed air?

300 bars of compressed air stored on board the vehicle

[Political Junkie Too]

Couple the Air Car with these Micro Turbines from Hong Kong, and they might be onto something.

-PJ

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Mass is important for stop and go driving -- which would involve repeated accelerations. Drag would be the biggest factor otherwise -- how much drag would depend on the coefficient of drag. The more aerodynamic the shape, the less energy required.

[HangnJudge]

I resemble that remark

5'10, 230#