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.

[Grizzled Bear]

It is still in development,
so I can't tell you too much about it just yet.

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I'm working on a similar system. Instead of peanut butter sandwiches mine uses a cattle prod. Thus far the results are quite remarkable.

[Yardstick]

It takes about 9.8 Watts to move one kilogram one meter in one second.

This sounds like an acceleration. But a frictionless car moving at a constant velocity isn't accelerating. Such a car would in fact use no energy except in the first few seconds when it was accelerating up to speed. After that it would just coast. The total energy used would be much smaller than what you've calculated, I think.

[gbs]

A tube to your butt, and a dozen cases of Pork and Beans with a nice ergonomic spoon to shovel'em in. LOL

[HangnJudge]

Internal heating is a problem...

It is possible but inefficient

[William Terrell]

Would an aerodynamic shape be a benefit at low speeds?

[Repeal The 17th]

The ideal solution might be for us to combine our projects
and develop the "carrot and stick" approach ...

[Grizzled Bear]

Hmmm. I like it!

[Publius6961]

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).

Oh yeah...
< /sarc >

If you buy into the suspension of disbelief that air compressed to 10,000 psi will be available in every shack in the country, and that the power needed to produce the compressed air is donated free by flying saucers, AND that the 50 gallon bomb does not take up all of the interior room...

[Nuc1]

We are Legion! But no offense, you're kinda slight aren't ya?

[HangnJudge]

Where does the carrot or stick go...

Inquiring minds want to know

[SampleMan]

I would think a steam engine powered car using a Stirling engine in a hybrid configuration would be more efficient, if not exactly a quick start.

Perhaps an internal combustion hybrid, using a closed cycle coolant to power a second generator would be able to harness a little more of the energy.

[HangnJudge]

~30% over lean body mass
kinda gets in the way...

[Publius6961]

Such a car would in fact use no energy except in the first few seconds when it was accelerating up to speed. After that it would just coast.

You should have stayed awake more often in high school physics class.

Air resistance and drag goes away when you're going a constant speed?
On what planet?

[Grizzled Bear]

Inquiring minds want to know

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The way it works is you put the "power source" into the giant hamster cage. If they are not moving sufficiently to provide adequate power you beat them across the back of the head with the stick.

If they ARE moving sufficiently to provide adequate power you beat them across the back of the head with the carrot.

Current testing is yielding mixed results.

[Nuc1]

"~30% over lean body mass
kinda gets in the way..."


True enough. Remember though, when the flood comes I float. Later bro! :D)

[SouthernBoyupNorth]

I got nothing against alternative fuel tech. I wonder why it has taken so long. I am not saying this is a bad thing it is just that the body looks flimsy and is described in frightening fashion as "glued" the the frame.....

[HangnJudge]

Assumption stated in reply

He was assuming a frictionless vehicle, part of ongoing discussion of energy expenditure from acceleration vs steady state parasitic loses

[sionnsar]

Made by Tata motors, India's largest car maker

Tata is a VERY large industrial giant in India -- don't diminish them one bit.

[sionnsar]

Let Al Gore ride in it first. When I see the eco nazis truly using these products

I've a colleague who has something like this.

[I see my hands]

I was gonna joke that CO2 would perform better than just air but I couldn't put one together.