http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/fisker-karma-spontaneously-combusts/
Posted on 11/06/2012 1:29:52 PM PST by Red Badger
Look what an Australian designer would like us to roll with in a no-emissions future: A motorcycle powered by nothing but air. Adding to a growing portfolio of ideas centered around compressed-air engines, this good-looking entry is called the 02 Pursuit. As an alternative-fuel bike, it reaches impressive speeds, given that is powered by a tank of compressed air. Opened up all the way, according to claims, the O2 Pursuit can do over 60 miles on a single tank and can zoom past trees and mountains at 87 mph. The obvious advantage to electric bikes would be that this Pursuit cycle would not require the big heavy batteries, long re-charging waits, and thoughts about battery disposal.
The O2 Pursuit was designed by Dean Benstead, an industrial designer and a graduate of RMIT University, in Melbourne, Australia. Benstead started out with a what-if idea: "Living in a world where people can commute in vehicles and have fun without impacting on the environment in a scenario that seems unachievable and unimaginable—what if we could?" He worked the idea into a functional prototype stage with numerous design iterations along the way. He said he conducted a validation of air as power source with the use of life-cycle analysis mapping and futuring. A Yamaha WR250R frame was fitted with a compressed-air engine, which is the DiPietro Air Engine developed by Engineair Australia, and a standard scuba diving tank. Last year, he showcased his O2 Pursuit air-powered motorcycle at the Sydney Motorcycle and Scooter Show. This year, the O2 Pursuit is one of the inventions that have been shortlisted for the upcoming James Dyson Award. There are 15 projects on the list and the winner and two runners-up will be announced on November 8.
As some suggest, however, the idea is wonderful but not yet practical. The drawback is lack of refilling stations, and a need to find power to compress the air in the first place. While gas stations are available to provide compressed air, they would not be efficient for something like a scuba tank. The answer would be in a "distributed generation smart grid," he said, where refill stations can be positioned around a city or rural area to facilitate the required range. The refill points would be navigable via the user's integrated smartphone and GPS system. Air energy could be compressed via solar or wind and stored in an inert state forever. Right now, however, the O2 Pursuit is a project that provides an inviting look into the use of air as an alternative fuel in, as he said, a post-petroleum world.
There are no mainstream NEW 2-stroke motorcycles. They've been banned in CA, and no manufacturer wants to build a mass market item that cannot be sold in CA.
The point is, they are claiming "Zero emissions". That is not possible, since only 6.2% of electricity comes from hydropower in the US.
This bike is a fraud, just like "Zero emission" electric cars.
couldn’t the energy produced by spinning wheels be harnessed somehow to compress air real-time onboard?
....or windmills........;^)
But gasoline has 34,200,000 Joules per liter, so a 12L scuba tank has the same amount of energy as 1.23 fluid ounces of gasoline. Woo-hoo!
That would be known as a Type 1 Perpetual Motion Machine. Do you have one that works? I'll give you a million dollars right now if it is demonstrated to work for a week under load.
“It would make for a pretty spectacular wreck to see that bike hit a truck and puncture that tank.”
I’m thinking of that scene in “Jaws.”
I thought of a tank rupture too. I am scared of cheapo air compressors for that reason. I wonder what pressure these are charged to. You would be riding around with a bomb between your legs. In the event of a rupture there could be body parts lost that you will NEVER find again. Makes me cringe to think about it.
What I could not understand about the French car is It’s moving @ whatever MPH all it takes to compress the air back to the tank is a flywheel on a wheel moving to compress air!
With pressure valves and dual tanks the air could be replaced while driving!
This bike is a fraud, just like “Zero”................
I love making the comment to electric car owners: “Nice coal burner!”
The Fiskar people weren’t amused.
Uh.....no..............
It requires a tremendous amount of energy to compress air....of all the equipment in my shop, I pay more for the air compressor than anything else. And that’s only at about 100 psi. A SCUBA tank requires a High Pressure Air Compressor (HPAC), anything in excess of 1000 psi, and would likely be a 5K psi compressor. Although it’s a cute idea, it would be far less efficient than good ole’ gasoline.
http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/fisker-karma-spontaneously-combusts/
You know, it occurred to me that that might be the case today. I haven’t done any dirt-biking for many years. I ride a cruiser these days and it takes a lot of air to move 800 lbs of bike and 200 lbs of rider. I think I’ll stick with dinosaur premium.
Same charge whether a small low pressure tank or a large high pressure tank. For this bike, a HP100+ would be the ticket. Not too heavy for the air load.
Oh, and BTW, FiskAR makes great scissors.
FiskER makes great outdoor grills.........kinda expensive though.....
“What’s the cost of filling up a scuba tank?”
Depends on the size, generally around $12.
Me either.......
Air devices require CFM. A tank small enough to fit on a cycle can’t deliver many cubic feet.
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