New engine runs on compressed air

There was a short bit about this thing in Popular Mechanics this month. Sounds pretty interesting, at least from an engineering perspective.

from an engineering perspective… linear to rotational motion through the use of compressed air is nothing close to new. Don’t forget “steam” is a fancy way of saying warm compressed air w/ moisture.

from a technological standpoint… it’s interesting to see it used in transportation

EDIT: that article is from 4 or 5 years ago…what has happend with this idea since?

“doesn’t explode”

I wouldn’t want to get into an accident in a small vehicle with a tank of air at 4500 psi…

[quote=“BikerFry,post:3,topic:29505"”]

“doesn’t explode”

I wouldn’t want to get into an accident in a small vehicle with a tank of air at 4500 psi…

[/quote]

the safety option for this vehicle comes with a straw.

http://www.theaircar.com/

i’m sure the tanks are rated for impact…
but, then again… its french so its probably cant handle getting hit by
an escolade on 30’s going full speed @ 70 mph

[quote=“LAFENGAS,post:2,topic:29505"”]

EDIT: that article is from 4 or 5 years ago…what has happend with this idea since?

[/quote]

Not sure, but it was in PM this month. The article hasn’t hit their web site yet though.

Jay Leno rocks steam powered cars ha
http://media.popularmechanics.com/images/tb_lenolead-lg-1.jpg

This car gets 157 MPG :eek:…Comes out in 2009. Wont make it into the US…
The Loremo LS Diesel
http://bioage.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/seite_alles_auf.jpg

[quote=“LAFENGAS,post:4,topic:29505"”]

the safety option for this vehicle comes with a straw.

[/quote]

:word: Haha

Wait, what?

50 miles per charge, lammmmmme. So if it costs $2.50 to fill up, its sorta like getting 50mpg, except over there its like $5/gal so more like 100mpg…

I guess if it didn’t look like a crappy smart car, only reach 70mph, then maybe I’d rock one.

Also what happens when you run out of air, its not like you can walk to the nearest station and fill up a 1gal gas can and come back.

I think Tesla did some work with compressed air motors back in the day.

I know cars with airbags can recharge their compressor with the battery, I wonder if this one could if its the same type of application? If so, no need to fill up ever, I would buy one!

"Environmentalists are also wary about the Air Car’s claimed benefits. Converting energy from electricity to compressed air is inefficient, according to Karsten Krause of the European Federation for Transport and Environment, a green lobby group based in Brussels.

By consuming much more energy from the power plant than it delivers on the road, Krause said, it could even do as much environmental damage as some gasoline cars.

“You may not have any pollution from the car itself,” he said, “but you’re just transferring the environmental burden to another place.”

Maybe it could at least lower our dependence on the Middle East.:gotme:
I have the technology right now to pump 10,000psi.:smiley:
(A little paintball r&d:snky: )

[quote=“AWDrifter,post:12,topic:29505"”]

“You may not have any pollution from the car itself,” he said, “but you’re just transferring the environmental burden to another place.”

[/quote]

try getting that thought process into the heads of environmentalists.
people are too simple minded. so what if its made from baby seals…
i get 50 miles per seal.

And again, as with battery powered cars and fuel cell cars, What is going to generate the electricity to compress the air, charge the battery, or separate the hydrogen to run your “green” car with? Coal, thats what.

niagara falls makes quite a bit of clean energy. I could commute on a 50 mile charge for 2 weeks.

You brought this up to say that?

i dont know 4 hours for 50 miles not that good IMO