http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Air_ca..._air_0104.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmqpGZv0YT4 <-- youtube video

http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...s/4251491.html


Very cool stuff and perhaps a bit more user friendly than hydrogen is at the moment.

So where is the energy going to come from? A bicycle pump?

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Dereck, PE, MSEE
Moderator

Are you asking what energy is going to create the compressed air?

About twelve years ago I first heard about this car. Then it was supposed to be out in 2 years then. This is like the fifth time they've resurfaced. Maybe they'll make it this time, but I wouldn't bank on it.

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"I believe that intense beer immersion therapy is the only answer." Oggie

Al Gore - the James Baker of Enviromentalism

Every dollar spent on cutting your power usage saves $4 dollars on solar setup costs.

Well, the good thing about posting in a forum like this is that we now have a record for historical review.

Will we see these available to US customers by 2010?

I won't bet on it, but I'm optimistic. I see things like crash test ratings and safety data being more of a hold-up for American release.

Time will tell.

Well of course It comes from your home electric system. Care to guess where that power comes from?

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Dereck, PE, MSEE
Moderator

You are right it is a glued tubular chasis and fiberglass body. Tata has not even released the one for India and Euro markets yet that I can tell. Everything is just PR releases which don't mean much.

If you read the PR for the American market they are installing a gas tank and ICE to run the thing here above 35 MPH.

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Dereck, PE, MSEE
Moderator

From a cleaner source than oil. From a source that's locally generated and maintained and not from outside the continental US.

I'm sure some people might be able to compress air using biofuels.

Which is easier on the entire environment? Gasoline powered car, or compressed air powered car?

Yes and know. right now a source with much higher pollution than gas called coal. If we are smart we will convert to nuclear for electric generation and use reneables to supplement nuke during peak periods. It is the only realistic answer


Nope that is pretty much of a lost cause. If you were to convert every acre of land on earth to grow biofuel, you could only supply 25% of our current world demand. Then you would have nothing to eat. Ethanol is net negative to only slightly positive on energy; meaning it takes more energy to make it than it delivers unless you use sugar as your source. The USA can't grow sugar unless you want to bull dose Miami and NOLA. Well bul dozong NOLA might be a good idea

Right now gasoline, it burns a lot cleaner than coal which is where we generate just over 50% of our energy here in the USA and growing daily. Want to talk about China and the new coal plant that is being started at a rate on one a week?

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Dereck, PE, MSEE
Moderator

Depends on where you live. I live in Delaware. There are 3 nuclear power plants within a 50 mile radius. Hope Creek can be seen from my roof.

Plus, used fry oil can be used as biofuel.

Delaware is also in the final stages of approving AN off-shore windfarm.

Solar can make a break through at any time.

Most gas stations have compressed air. A few minutes worth of running a compressor to get you what 10 gallons of gas might get you has to be completely cleaner.

I'm not saying the compressed air car is THE solution....but it's a great great great alternative that makes more sense than ethanol or waiting another bunch of decades for hydrogen.