Air Cars...

[665ae]

http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/489.html

I still have some reservations as to the durability and safety of a daily driver using compressed air... (but the hybrid they mentioned sounds really interesting)

The part of this vid that I thought was really cool was the 2nd part... The small air rotary engine is awesome, and I'm hoping it will actually end up being used.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I really hope the technology works as it's a pretty clean fuel source

I think there trailling it in Spain and Southern France

[Sea Monster]

I think there trailling it in Spain and Southern France

Is that the Pommy equivalent of "back east"?

The place you can name so people can nod knowingly, but it's far enough away no one will actually check the facts?

[jzmtl]

A 50 PSI tire blowing up can send a grown man across the garage, that thing has three large tanks at 300 bar (4531 PSI) right under your butt. 

But $4 of electricity for 200 km does sound good.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Not a good choice if it is... we have a prominent member from Spain...

Def

[ducktapehero]

That's pretty neat.

[665ae]

A 50 PSI tire blowing up can send a grown man across the garage, that thing has three large tanks at 300 bar (4531 PSI) right under your butt. 

But $4 of electricity for 200 km does sound good.

In the video they talk about how the tanks are fiber... if the pressure get's too high, or they get punctured, they just crack... supposedly...

[jzmtl]

Yeah I heard that too, but at that pressure (did I hear that right, 300 bar?) crackable material sounds like shrapnel materal. Besdies even if it only cracks, there's enough power to turn something into a rocket.

[665ae]

Maybe if the tank broke free of the car it could turn into a missile... otherwise, the weight of the car should be enough to hold it in place and not let it build any momentum.

Although, I find the thought of little cars getting punctured tanks and flying away out of control somewhat funny

[Whoey]

One would think the tanks are fiber so that if they do blow, minimal damage will be done, also the difference in weight... plus if you put the carbon fiber tanks under a steel plate that covers the undercarriage of the car, it should protect anyone from shrapnel. You could also probably coat the tanks with a rubber coating to hold them together even if they do crack. I'd imagine they have some good people working out the details to make it safe for all.

In general it sounds like a great option for getting around town!

[jzmtl]

And you can always add a valve aiming backward for a little extra ommph when wanted, although excessive use may leave you stranded with no "fuel" left. 

[duckman1975]

I have seen the video of it in future cars, the amount of energy compressing the air is about the same as charging batteries of the electric car ain't it?

[J-sews]

I have seen the video of it in future cars, the amount of energy compressing the air is about the same as charging batteries of the electric car ain't it?

That's what I was thinking too.

The tanks of compressed air are just another form of stored energy, no different than a battery stores an electrical charge. The air "motor" is a device for converting that stored energy into rotary motion, just like an electric motor.

Comparing the two, it seems like an electric car would have all the advantages.

[duckman1975]

I have seen the video of it in future cars, the amount of energy compressing the air is about the same as charging batteries of the electric car ain't it?

That's what I was thinking too.

The tanks of compressed air are just another form of stored energy, no different than a battery stores an electrical charge. The air "motor" is a device for converting that stored energy into rotary motion, just like an electric motor.

Comparing the two, it seems like an electric car would have all the advantages.

Yup that was exactly what I'm thinking. Now if they make a fart powered car that you be something!