Car that Runs on Air and Magnets

With fuel prices rising and supplies dwindling, more and more inventors are turning their creativity towards cars that work without the need for barrels of gasoline. True, there have been a number of vehicles released that run on electricity but now designers are turning to another precious resource – air.

It’s not a new concept, as early as the 1920s, car designers were dabbling with the idea of cars that could run off air alone – one involved cycling air through a propeller at the front of the car – but few came to fruition. Now, designers are again looking at how air can be used to power a car.

Source

The car runs pretty clean and has a battery with a 10 year lifespan which is 95% recyclable. I could see this as being one of the many solutions available to costly gas prices.

It looks cool too

It is almost exciting, but then I realize this tech is ready and nothing is coming out to us.

Maybe in India there are some air powered cars being made for the public, but I doubt that will last. The rich oil tycoons aren't going to stand around and let their pockets get smaller.

*typo edit

[edit on 15-8-2009 by theuhstuf]

The problem with compressed air cars is you first have to compress the air lol.

Yes it runs off air, but the air compressor is using power from a coal plant.

I've always thought if you put solar panels on the roof and wind turbines on the roof and hood, you'd get enough juice to keep going, and enough battery charge to get you back up to speed.

Nice find OP, we should have switched to electric cars years ago!

Originally posted by breakingdradles
The problem with compressed air cars is you first have to compress the air lol.

Yes it runs off air, but the air compressor is using power from a coal plant.

I've always thought if you put solar panels on the roof and wind turbines on the roof and hood, you'd get enough juice to keep going, and enough battery charge to get you back up to speed.

Nice find OP, we should have switched to electric cars years ago!

The air compressor has had some technical improvements, but yes
it will be required to stop and "fill up" like we do now.

en.wikipedia.org...

The draw back to Electric vehicles is the several thousand dollars
you must spend on batteries.

With compressed air you can use some welders tanks that have
been mass produced for years, just need to be VERY careful with
them and fasten them VERY well to the frame of the car.

The Lion batteries now in production only last a few years even
if you sit them on a shelf and do not use them at all.

en.wikipedia.org...

Some progress is being made to reduce the shelf life effects on Li-on,
but it also adds to the cost at this point.

A hybrid super cap will be the best and brightest hope for electric.

But for compressed air, it works right now, and it has a very long
life and is not prone to catching fire either.

A good side effect of the compressed air is when it is released
it acts like air conditioning.

Hopefully we can get cold fusion vehicles at some point, once they
get the kinks worked out of that.

www.eetimes.com...

It has been confirmed now thou thru slight changes in process.

reply to post by phi1618


S and F

Totally Awesome - I like the fact they say - production could start next year!

I am in for one!!