Posted on 03/30/2007 7:17:49 PM PDT by Rick_Michael
"The energy, no matter what its final form (air pressure) has to come from somewhere. And in the end, that source of origin is fossil fuel (except for solar cells.) This is just replacing a battery with an air tank."
Understood. It's a matter of effiency in my view. Less cost. I'm not praise the Goremind. I'm just thinking of our long-term security (both economically and physically).
Algae fuel would be the best alternative, although costs are too high...at the moment. I do believe our economy will be algae-driven in the future, if all things go well. That or fusion...but I think fusion is the DREAM.
Comfortably carries an average family of four Weebles.
If you believe all this about this car; I have a perpetual motion machine I would like you all to invest in.
Never ever worry about energy again; just spin it once and it goes and goes and goes and goes sometimes faster and faster and faster...
Last time I gave it a big shove to get it moving and I couldn't get it stopped until I hooked up the contraption to car brakes and then I wore two sets out before I could stop it.
Call me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmqpGZv0YT4
Watch the video. These guys are ready to go to market. The end of a video shows a Wankel style engine that works even better. Looks pretty convincing to me, and much better than electric or hydrogen.
If I wanted to drive around in a golf cart then I might consider this. I'll stick with my 405hp Corvette Z06 - and I ain't buying no stinkin' Carbon Offsets!
"though electrical car cost far too much money (due to the battery)."
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The batteries are also a waste disposal nightmare, a problem that is not considered by many who discuss electric vehicles. Also, the set of batteries can make a used electric car economically worthless as it depreciates to a value of about $3000 by the measure of any gasoline powered car.
If this takes off, I wonder what state governments will do for tax revenue? You can compress at home and never visit a gas station again - at least for driving around town.
"I once foolishly brought up the subject of air powered cars on an alternative energy thread. Man, I was excoriated as a greenie dimwit."
It shouldn't be this way. Alternative shouldn't be a liberal thing. It's our responsiblity to review these things and not prejudge them as only for the Greenies.
Of coarse not, and I agree. I think biodisels along with other forms of energy in the long-run will win out.
I do think we should drill in Alaska and on the coast, but we have to keep our eyes open for things like this. Who knows, it could live up to the hype.
Who cares about Carbon. The cost savings would be phenomenal, not to mention reshaping global politics. We could nuke Iran with no worries.
I have 3 cars. Different cars for different uses.
The future will be about options.
http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/000129.html
"Negre explains that, in the tanks, the air is both cooled to minus 100 degrees Centigrade and compressed to 4,500 pounds per square inch. Then its injected into a small chamber between the tanks and pistons, where its heated up by ambient outside air that forces it to expand into a larger chamber situated between the small chamber and the pistons. That heat exchange between the two chambers, he continues, creates the propulsion that drives the up-and-down strokes of the engines four pistons."
OH DRAT.
Those pesky details, like keeping the air at minus 100 degree centigrade while it is parked in the hot sun, just keep getting in the way.................. Wonder how much energy would be used by a portable air conditioner hammering away on a tank of air 24/7 trying to keep it from getting above minus 100 degress centigrade and EXPLODING!!!!!!!!!!!!
This alternative stuff violatin all the rules of thermodynamics and economics, to say nothing of reality and justified and sanctified behind the fear that some terrorists are gonna make a buck offa energy is just gitten too absurd to even laugh at anymore.
Compressed air... My A$$!!!
"If this takes off, I wonder what state governments will do for tax revenue? You can compress at home and never visit a gas station again - at least for driving around town."
I think they get most of their revenues through estate taxes. Although you have point. I'm sure they would still make money from the energy company. While I think the efficiency levels seem to be better with this system...they would still effectively produce more demand from the electricity companies.
In the long-run, they suggest that solar power will be competitive with other forms of energy in 15-20 years. So we're looking at some rather big shifts in whom has the money.
Mini CAT? More like micro teensy kitten.
If a tank was ruptured in a wreck, you'd get a heckuva POP! No fire, but it would shrapnel everything within hundreds of yards.
"Who cares about Carbon. The cost savings would be phenomenal, not to mention reshaping global politics. We could nuke Iran with no worries."
I laugh...but I know your serious. I don't think it should be as drastic, but military conflicts in the area would be less liable to economic diaster....so yeah, I generally agree.
"If a tank was ruptured in a wreck, you'd get a heckuva POP! No fire, but it would shrapnel everything within hundreds of yards."
Watch the video...that issue is spoken of, and dealt with.
That's going to be one huge bang when the tank ruptures in an accident (fiberglass?) ... if you want to run off of expanding gas then you can always go back to the Stanley Steamer ,,, water expands 1600x when going to steam ... I just don't see how that amount of energy can be stored with just compression into the tanks at no more than 120 psi (remember they said you can "recharge" at a standard tire fill at a gas station) ..
If kept in a vacuum insulated tank (big Thermos bottle), it could last a fairly long time. As the compressed (even liquified at that temp?) air heated slowly it would have to be bled off.
Interesting. Especially the rotary motor.
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