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To: thackney

The basic idea isn’t too bad.

Actually, it is a very inefficient method. Compressed air is a horribly inefficient method of energy storage. Too much energy goes into heating of the air during compression. That energy is lost.


Yes, but according to the article it takes two minutes to fill the air tank. Compare that to six to eight hours to recharge a battery pack. Also it gets 125 miles on average per refill. That’s also comparable to an electric car. Plus there is no need to buy an expensive battery pack when the old one dies.

So as an alternative method for storing energy for a cars propulsion it does beat electric as far as I am concerned. And I can imagine a braking method that uses a pump to put air back into the air tank. That would be similar to the regenerative braking on some electric vehicles also.

That to me makes it an idea that isn’t too bad.


21 posted on 08/20/2012 5:23:35 AM PDT by The Working Man
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To: The Working Man
according to the article it takes two minutes to fill the air tank

To achieve those rates, you would need a large compressed storage (at least an order of magnitude larger than the fuel tank). Likely for a commercial refilling station but more expensive for a home refueling station.

it does beat electric as far as I am concerned

a top speed of 43 mph

Not to me, that doesn't. And I would like to see if the range stays that same at near top speed.

26 posted on 08/20/2012 6:01:58 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: The Working Man

May I suggest you read:

http://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/environment/deflating-the-air-car/0


35 posted on 08/20/2012 7:07:41 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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