Electric Car? How about a Compressed Air Car?

"Dave" wrote in message
oups.com...
The recent discussion of the merits of various electric cars. I'd
summarize the current state of the art as one of interesting
technologial developments, but an unsolved basic problem: How to store
an adequate amount of the source of motive power in a manageable
package. Batteries aren't there yet - and may never be. NEVs are a
joke, and the 3-wheel "motorcycle" types are marginal at best.

Now it appears that someone has come up with the idea of running a
vehicle on compressed air. Check this out:
http://www.theaircar.com/ There is nothing novel about the
technology - air motors have been around for years. They are often
used where sources of ignition are a hazard. The only thing new is the
idea of combining an air motor and a source of supply in a compact
vehicle. The advantages would appear to be adequate power and range
for urban/suburban use - and zero pollution (not counting the
pollution generated in the process of compressing the air in the first
place). Such vehicles could be "recharged" by compressors overnight -
when surplus electric power is available. Downsides? High pressure
compressors are expensive, and require lots of power to operate. Not
to mention the fact that any high pressure tank is a potential bomb.
OTOH such tanks are in common use, such as SCUBA tanks and paintball
tanks - found everywhere.

Comments?

David Johnson


Maybe supply the pressure from a chemical reaction (alka-seltzer and water;
vinegar and soda, mentos and coke, etc.) You won't need the high pressure
if you can renew the pressure while you are driving.

--

*H. Allen Smith*
WACO - We are all here, because we are not all there.

Allen wrote:


"Dave" wrote in message
oups.com...
The recent discussion of the merits of various electric cars. I'd
summarize the current state of the art as one of interesting
technologial developments, but an unsolved basic problem: How to store
an adequate amount of the source of motive power in a manageable
package. Batteries aren't there yet - and may never be. NEVs are a
joke, and the 3-wheel "motorcycle" types are marginal at best.

Now it appears that someone has come up with the idea of running a
vehicle on compressed air. Check this out:
http://www.theaircar.com/ There is nothing novel about the
technology - air motors have been around for years. They are often
used where sources of ignition are a hazard. The only thing new is the
idea of combining an air motor and a source of supply in a compact
vehicle. The advantages would appear to be adequate power and range
for urban/suburban use - and zero pollution (not counting the
pollution generated in the process of compressing the air in the first
place). Such vehicles could be "recharged" by compressors overnight -
when surplus electric power is available. Downsides? High pressure
compressors are expensive, and require lots of power to operate. Not
to mention the fact that any high pressure tank is a potential bomb.
OTOH such tanks are in common use, such as SCUBA tanks and paintball
tanks - found everywhere.

Comments?

David Johnson


Maybe supply the pressure from a chemical reaction (alka-seltzer and water;
vinegar and soda, mentos and coke, etc.) You won't need the high pressure
if you can renew the pressure while you are driving.

Bean burritos?

--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

wrote in message
...
Allen wrote:


"Dave" wrote in message
oups.com...
The recent discussion of the merits of various electric cars. I'd
summarize the current state of the art as one of interesting
technologial developments, but an unsolved basic problem: How to store
an adequate amount of the source of motive power in a manageable
package. Batteries aren't there yet - and may never be. NEVs are a
joke, and the 3-wheel "motorcycle" types are marginal at best.

Now it appears that someone has come up with the idea of running a
vehicle on compressed air. Check this out:
http://www.theaircar.com/ There is nothing novel about the
technology - air motors have been around for years. They are often
used where sources of ignition are a hazard. The only thing new is the
idea of combining an air motor and a source of supply in a compact
vehicle. The advantages would appear to be adequate power and range
for urban/suburban use - and zero pollution (not counting the
pollution generated in the process of compressing the air in the first
place). Such vehicles could be "recharged" by compressors overnight -
when surplus electric power is available. Downsides? High pressure
compressors are expensive, and require lots of power to operate. Not
to mention the fact that any high pressure tank is a potential bomb.
OTOH such tanks are in common use, such as SCUBA tanks and paintball
tanks - found everywhere.

Comments?

David Johnson


Maybe supply the pressure from a chemical reaction (alka-seltzer and
water;
vinegar and soda, mentos and coke, etc.) You won't need the high
pressure
if you can renew the pressure while you are driving.

Bean burritos?

--
Jim Pennino


There you go, think outside the box! I was thinking about some substance
that could be used that a small amount of matter when reacted would produce
a large amount of "controllable" gas. Forget about plugging it in each
night, just drop in a cartridge or something. (Hey I'm just an idea man -
you work out the details)

--

*H. Allen Smith*
WACO - We are all here, because we are not all there.

There you go, think outside the box! I was thinking about some substance
that could be used that a small amount of matter when reacted would produce
a large amount of "controllable" gas. Forget about plugging it in each
night, just drop in a cartridge or something. (Hey I'm just an idea man -
you work out the details)

Carbide (like was formerly used in miner's headlamps)?

David Johnson

Dave wrote in
:


There you go, think outside the box! I was thinking about some
substance that could be used that a small amount of matter when
reacted would produce a large amount of "controllable" gas. Forget
about plugging it in each night, just drop in a cartridge or
something. (Hey I'm just an idea man - you work out the details)

Carbide (like was formerly used in miner's headlamps)?



Carbide produced Acetylene.

I wouldn;'t care to try and run a IC engine on acetylene!

I have used it in lamps however and the light they produce is brilliant!


Bertie

On 2007-11-14 09:20:45 -0800, "Allen" said:



"Dave" wrote in message
oups.com...
The recent discussion of the merits of various electric cars. I'd
summarize the current state of the art as one of interesting
technologial developments, but an unsolved basic problem: How to store
an adequate amount of the source of motive power in a manageable
package. Batteries aren't there yet - and may never be. NEVs are a
joke, and the 3-wheel "motorcycle" types are marginal at best.

Now it appears that someone has come up with the idea of running a
vehicle on compressed air. Check this out:
http://www.theaircar.com/ There is nothing novel about the
technology - air motors have been around for years. They are often
used where sources of ignition are a hazard. The only thing new is the
idea of combining an air motor and a source of supply in a compact
vehicle. The advantages would appear to be adequate power and range
for urban/suburban use - and zero pollution (not counting the
pollution generated in the process of compressing the air in the first
place). Such vehicles could be "recharged" by compressors overnight -
when surplus electric power is available. Downsides? High pressure
compressors are expensive, and require lots of power to operate. Not
to mention the fact that any high pressure tank is a potential bomb.
OTOH such tanks are in common use, such as SCUBA tanks and paintball
tanks - found everywhere.

Comments?

David Johnson


Maybe supply the pressure from a chemical reaction (alka-seltzer and water;
vinegar and soda, mentos and coke, etc.) You won't need the high pressure
if you can renew the pressure while you are driving.

Sure, if you don't mind the carbon dioxide in the bubbles and have a
good idea of what to do with the used up chemicals.
--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor

"C J Campbell" wrote in message
news:2007111410422875249-christophercampbell@hotmailcom...
On 2007-11-14 09:20:45 -0800, "Allen" said:



"Dave" wrote in message
oups.com...
The recent discussion of the merits of various electric cars. I'd
summarize the current state of the art as one of interesting
technologial developments, but an unsolved basic problem: How to store
an adequate amount of the source of motive power in a manageable
package. Batteries aren't there yet - and may never be. NEVs are a
joke, and the 3-wheel "motorcycle" types are marginal at best.

Now it appears that someone has come up with the idea of running a
vehicle on compressed air. Check this out:
http://www.theaircar.com/ There is nothing novel about the
technology - air motors have been around for years. They are often
used where sources of ignition are a hazard. The only thing new is the
idea of combining an air motor and a source of supply in a compact
vehicle. The advantages would appear to be adequate power and range
for urban/suburban use - and zero pollution (not counting the
pollution generated in the process of compressing the air in the first
place). Such vehicles could be "recharged" by compressors overnight -
when surplus electric power is available. Downsides? High pressure
compressors are expensive, and require lots of power to operate. Not
to mention the fact that any high pressure tank is a potential bomb.
OTOH such tanks are in common use, such as SCUBA tanks and paintball
tanks - found everywhere.

Comments?

David Johnson


Maybe supply the pressure from a chemical reaction (alka-seltzer and
water;
vinegar and soda, mentos and coke, etc.) You won't need the high
pressure
if you can renew the pressure while you are driving.

Sure, if you don't mind the carbon dioxide in the bubbles and have a good
idea of what to do with the used up chemicals.
--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor


I don't think all chemical reactions produce carbon dioxide (some actually
produce oxygen) and some would leave no residue. Just throwing out ideas,
don't be so negative

--

*H. Allen Smith*
WACO - We are all here, because we are not all there.

"Allen" wrote in message
t...


...
Maybe supply the pressure from a chemical reaction (alka-seltzer and
water; vinegar and soda, mentos and coke, etc.) You won't need the high
pressure if you can renew the pressure while you are driving.


Vernors works better than Coke with Mentos - more carbonation.

Diet is better than "regular" - not as sticky.

The best (most practical) way to supply the pressure from a chemical
reaction is to mix air with gasoline or diesel fuel...

--
Geoff
The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail
When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate.

"Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe" The Sea Hawk at wow way d0t com wrote in message
news:Nc2dnbZF9cgkFKbanZ2dnUVZ_jSdnZ2d@wideopenwest .com...
"Allen" wrote in message
t...


...
Maybe supply the pressure from a chemical reaction (alka-seltzer and
water; vinegar and soda, mentos and coke, etc.) You won't need the high
pressure if you can renew the pressure while you are driving.


Vernors works better than Coke with Mentos - more carbonation.

Diet is better than "regular" - not as sticky.

The best (most practical) way to supply the pressure from a chemical
reaction is to mix air with gasoline or diesel fuel...

--
Geoff
The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail
When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate.

Yes, but that is so un-"green". And it smells bad too.

--

*H. Allen Smith*
WACO - We are all here, because we are not all there.

On 2007-11-14 15:50:26 -0800, "Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe" The Sea Hawk at
wow way d0t com said:

"Allen" wrote in message
t...


...
Maybe supply the pressure from a chemical reaction (alka-seltzer and
water; vinegar and soda, mentos and coke, etc.) You won't need the high
pressure if you can renew the pressure while you are driving.


Vernors works better than Coke with Mentos - more carbonation.

Diet is better than "regular" - not as sticky.


Besides, Mentos and Coke is not a chemical reaction. It is a physical
one. It so happens that Mentos have a large surface area that is
exactly the right texture to allow CO2 bubbles to form on it. You could
make a ceramic Mento that would have exactly the same effect as long as
the surface was the same texture as the real Mento. A ceramic Mento
could be used over and over.
--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor