Air-powered Autos (Star Trek Technology - A Car That Breathes Air, Just Like You Do. Unbelievable.)

MIT Technology Review ^ | September 19, 2002 | John Harney

[Paul Ross]

The range is ridiculously limited. Outside of NYC or Boston, this car would not be able to avoid being 'refilled' three or four times a week in the Midwest, where the average commutes are 40 to 50 miles a day, and if you travel any distance for a trip, you would be refilling every one and a half hours. The speed is also ridiculously low. We are used to our 75 mph interstate speeds, and 55 just doesn't cut it when you have 600-800 miles to go. And just how 'clean' is the process that generates the compressed air? The air is filtered, but the energy for the compression has a cost. How is that factored in? I would just as soon see hybrid-electric, which is already available, and soon to be on SUVs.

[Old Professer]

This is the real deal. A technology that relies on air pressure, just like your bike pump. This technology is out of this world. You heard it here first!

Nikola Tesla's Patent #514,169, Feb 6, 1894 for a reciprocating engine incorporates a unique oscillating piston design he called the "Air Spring;" this engine would work on steam or compressed air and eliminated the wasted weight of inertial gear such as flywheels.

Of course, we always come back to the cost and inconvenience of filling the air tanks.

[Aquinasfan]

Of course, we always come back to the cost and inconvenience of filling the air tanks.

Might make a good, semi-enclosed, commuter bike.

[Deguello]

Now you know why compressed gas bottles are transported in open bed trucks,chained upright only and steel capped. The steel caps are only removed once the bottles are secured (cased or chained) in their final resting place for use in what ever purpose. With the steel cap removed, all it takes is for some dork to damage the valve end by what ever means and you have an excellent rocket.

[monday]

"Two of the tanks would be charged with high-pressure air that would drive the pistons. As the car was moving the other two tanks would be charged and this process would continue driving the car for as long as you wished. "

LOL..you are kidding I hope? The car might? run very slowly right up to the moment the pressure in all four tanks equalized. At that point further motion would require increasing the pressure in the driving set of tanks or decreasing the pressure in the receiving tanks. Either that or a magic fairy;^)

[WhiteGuy]

I guess I'm Guy Blanco????

[from occupied ga]

Obviously, the vehicle also drastically reduces pollution

MASSIVE BULL SH!T ALERT!!!

First law of thermodynamics violation. ie You can't get something from nothing. For every cal expended here you have to have several cals produced someplace else (probably a fossil fuel plant)

[Sloth]

Cheaper than a JATO engine, I guess...

[Prodigal Son]

The big question is can it compete with gasoline powered cars. I can think of 100's of ways to power a car - but not at the price of gasoline.

That is the big tamale. We aren't addicted to Middle Eastern Oil, we're addicted to cheap energy. When something is as cheap as oil and provides the same benefits to use- we'll switch. Until then, we're going to keep pumping that black gold out of the ground.

[Calvin Locke]

...and had him offed.

Was listening to some old Art Bell shows last night. I record to mp3 and listen at later times. Well, I'm backed up from April...

There was a guy on discussing stuff such as this, the Fish carburator, etc. Caller described the air car guy as being from CA.

Great statement: "... and he did what he said, drive it up the steps of the [US] Capitol...[to get publicity, etc]... and I never heard of him again..."

DUH. Probably get hit with a LAWs rocket nowadays.

Oh, and they were an adequate number of 80mpg carburators, sold out, plans disappeared, inventor disappeared,
accidently had the "wrong" factory carb stories too.

[stylin19a]

I'm still scratchin my head why the Chrysler Turbine development was killed ? Fuel requirements: what've you got? diesel, unleaded gas, kerosene, JP-4, others. No adjustments needed to switch from one to the other.

[Oberon]

The car might? run very slowly right up to the moment the pressure in all four tanks equalized.

That's the point. The air in the tanks takes the place of a great big clockspring... a clockspring wound up by energy taken from elsewhere. With 4500 PSI in four big tanks, you can store a lot of energy.

Which you may discover the first time you're in a crash.

BLAMMO!

[Oberon]

Oh, wait... quoted you out of context. I'm sorry.

[lavaroise]

$15000 to be converted to that tin can? I thought conversion required to pay a rebate first! There ain't no way this is going to be marketable. And why filter the air on the way out? THat's another cost for the user of clean energy vehicle. That's ridiculous.

[laker_dad]

I'm still scratchin my head why the Chrysler Turbine development was killed ? Fuel requirements: what've you got? diesel, unleaded gas, kerosene, JP-4, others. No adjustments needed to switch from one to the other. My dad was an engineer on that project. We got to drive the test cars around for a few weeks, and got quite a few looks from other people on the road. He even got the white one that Tony Curtis drove in some racing movie. Sure was a cool car. I believe the body was imported from Italy. Anyway, I think that the auto companies were not willing to re-tool the plants because of the costs involved.

[laker_dad]

Tony Curtis drove in some racing movie Oops! Wrong Movie Star... Found it at www.turbinecar.com "The Lively Set" - Starring Doug McClure

[Kevin OMalley]

need to read this later...