Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Air Powered Cars, a reality?

After my post on Steam/Air Powered Car I did a little internet searching on an Air Powered Car.

There are several articles over the last few years talking about the impending air car revolution. Most of the articles launch dates for these cars are passed but they still are talking about making them. The majority of the development of these seem to be India, with Tata being the one who seems to be the one leading the development now. The car is suppose to have a top speed of 68 and a range of 125 mph. They would be able to be filled up at a gas station in about 3 minutes through their air compressors for about $2, or the car can be plugged in and an on board compressor will be able to fill it in about 4 hours. These numbers are comparable to most electric car claims, except the 4 hour charge will be availble through a standard power outlet which would make it easier to find somewhere to plug in.


There are of course some problems with this car.

First off to save weight the car is held together by glue. Outside of India, it is pretty doubtful glue will be allowed as the main thing holding a car together.

The second one temperature. When you compress air it gets heats up. As air heats up it expands, which will stop you from efficiently filling up the tanks. While you let the compressed air out it gets cold,which I guess is freezing the motors up. On the plus side the car will have a pretty awesome air conditioner.

The third issue brought up is saying it isn't actually green. The argument is the same as for the electrical cars not really being green. While the car will not be using fossil fuels, the air compressor will, whether the on board one or the one at the gas station has to get power from somewhere, and since most electrical power sources aren't green we aren't helping the enviroment.

Well there is always the rubber band powered car.

2 comments:

  1. Air has a diesel like effect at high pressure a property that has been used for mining equipment.

    It is necessary to evaluate commercially as well as environmentally as to how much gasoline will be used by the air compressors on board assuming the number of cars on road world over.

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  2. Really nice post off course It is necessary to evaluate commercially as well as environmentally as to how much gasoline will be used by the air compressors on board assuming the number of cars on road world over.

    ReplyDelete