Air powered car... At last!

[Neil]

I've been reading about this thing for years... Great idea! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7241909.stm http://www.mdi.lu/eng/affiche_eng.php?page=minicats

[Publius]

Very interesting! The big question for a car like that is what kind of range it gets. Although it certainly oughta be easier to set up the infrastructure for air-pumping stations than, say, hydrogen filling stations. You could run the whole system on nuclear and renewable energy sources, since the only input you'd need at the pump is electricity. And it avoids the weight, expense, and nasty chemicals involved with batteries, which are the weak link with electric cars.

[Neil]

Very interesting! The big question for a car like that is what kind of range it gets. Although it certainly oughta be easier to set up the infrastructure for air-pumping stations than, say, hydrogen filling stations. You could run the whole system on nuclear and renewable energy sources, since the only input you'd need at the pump is electricity. And it avoids the weight, expense, and nasty chemicals involved with batteries, which are the weak link with electric cars. With just air it varies on use, urban or non-urban. Also, with the use of petrol to augment the process the distance vastly increases. Imaging doing 1,500km with just 2ltr of fuel!!! (non-urban) For me, poodling to work (urban) I'd just plug it in once/twice a week to fill/compress it up, but use no petrol...

[MinionZombie]

But you know what the really burning question this raises is? When will there be an air powered TV?!

[Neil]

But you know what the really burning question this raises is? When will there be an air powered TV?! OK! Ghey08 has melted your brain!

[MinionZombie]

OK! Ghey08 has melted your brain! Well, yes it has actually ... but it was kind of a reference to Zombie Man.

[DjfunkmasterG]

Yeah when is Zombie Man going to get his air powered TV? On topic, that is one Fugly looking car. I wouldn't want to be caught dead in that thing.

[Neil]

Yeah when is Zombie Man going to get his air powered TV? On topic, that is one Fugly looking car. I wouldn't want to be caught dead in that thing. Yup, not very attractive, but TBH considering how green it is and how cheep it is to run, I don't really car that it's ugly... It's air powered, how cool is that... And can do 1500km with 2ltr of petrol If it works reasonably well, it could really change things!

[Mutineer]

Mesmerizing to think of all of the alternative fuel sources available to us and yet, the big Oil companies and all of their ties just don't want it. If we could just give up our oil dependcy, imagine that.

[MinionZombie]

Ho-ho, and I thought the G-Whiz looked bad! Still, an air powered car is so much cooler-an-idea than the electric car. Although, a car with no grunt to its engine just feels wrong. I was playing PGR4 and an invitational came up to race an electric car - it was totally silent - which was just wrong. Still though, an interesting advance. But it has to be said, that hydrogen car on Top Gear a few years back actually looked nifty too...except for the funky-future steering set-up, which was just lame.

[SymphonicX]

I wouldn't care if it looked like a cardboard box on wheels, if its THAT low on emissions and cheap to run I'd go for it feet first. I'm holding off on buying a car until I can get one that has great low emissions...

[Neil]

Mesmerizing to think of all of the alternative fuel sources available to us and yet, the big Oil companies and all of their ties just don't want it. If we could just give up our oil dependcy, imagine that. Supposedly the developer of this air engine has received threats over the years! Ho-ho, and I thought the G-Whiz looked bad! Still, an air powered car is so much cooler-an-idea than the electric car. Although, a car with no grunt to its engine just feels wrong. I was playing PGR4 and an invitational came up to race an electric car - it was totally silent - which was just wrong. Still though, an interesting advance. But it has to be said, that hydrogen car on Top Gear a few years back actually looked nifty too...except for the funky-future steering set-up, which was just lame. We need a massive improvement in batteries to make electric cars viable. Hydrogen fuel - from the little I know - just seems like madness. It takes sooo much energy to produce it? (I think!)

[Kaos]

We need a massive improvement in batteries to make electric cars viable. Screw batteries for electric cars. I think giant capacitors would work way better. Just a 5 minute charge takes you 300 miles. Check out this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EEstor

[MinionZombie]

And then of course, there's the rest of the car to think about, the actual materials that make the structure. I still remember Clarkson putting a Prius beside a 6 litre Mercedes S-Class and asking which was more environmentally friendly - it was the 'evil' Mercedes. While not electric, the materials that made the car were recycled. Also - think of the horrid gunk inside those batteries, that acid and all sort of chemicals. What happens to those? I think that episode of South Park about the Prius was f*cking hilarious and well observed.

[ZombiePrototype]

I think that this a great idea and I am sure that with enought time and research the inventor will be able to make the aircar as fast as, and as powerful as a vehicle with an ICE. Also you just know that the oil companies are going to fight anything that is an alternative to what they offer and cuts into their sales/profits especially when a company has an almost 40 billion US dollar profit(yes I said profit) like EXXON-Mobil did in 2007. Sorry I don't know what the exchange rate is for the UK or any other country.