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The New, Freaking Bizarre-Looking, Air-Powered Car
ecogeek.org — The AirPod seats three (one facing backward) and the "playful and futuristic" design allows for an extremely light-weight and inexpensive vehicle. The top speed of the thing is just over 40 miles per hour and it has a range of only 130 miles before a refill is needed, so...obviously it will be just for city use.
jaybol- 700 diggs
- digg it
- theWrkncacnter, on 10/11/2008, -1/+26I'm really looking forward to the day when pressured air can power normal looking cars.
- gothsquirrel, on 10/12/2008, -0/+3There other cars look much less like a robots head and I have wanted one for years. http://www.mdi.lu/english/index.php
- STARTSOMETHING, on 10/12/2008, -0/+2So the car is under $2,000?
Source: http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=& ... - Technopundit, on 10/12/2008, -1/+3"Air power" is just a form of spring. I doubt these things really save energy.
- waspbr, on 10/14/2008, -0/+2what are u talking about? air power is just a way of storing mechanical energy in a clean source. Today we use a method that transforms chemical energy into mechanical energy. The objective is the same, in the combustion chamber the fuel added increased the pressure in the air and that creates work. pressurised air is not different except that you don't need a chemical reaction to take place with harmful bi-products that pollute and damage the engine (eg soot). Air pressure is very clean on that aspect and it does not require the engine to have high temperature bearing materials.
depending on the way you compress the air, you can have a completely renewable source of energy, and the technology for air compressors is very well developed and efficient.
I really do not see your point here.
- waspbr, on 10/14/2008, -0/+2what are u talking about? air power is just a way of storing mechanical energy in a clean source. Today we use a method that transforms chemical energy into mechanical energy. The objective is the same, in the combustion chamber the fuel added increased the pressure in the air and that creates work. pressurised air is not different except that you don't need a chemical reaction to take place with harmful bi-products that pollute and damage the engine (eg soot). Air pressure is very clean on that aspect and it does not require the engine to have high temperature bearing materials.
- metrognome, on 10/11/2008, -6/+4Next up... the methane powered car. Just stick this controller in your anus and gas up while you become gas free.
- dayoldblues, on 10/12/2008, -1/+3Stupid.
- Narcowski, on 10/12/2008, -2/+2ORLY?
- dayoldblues, on 10/12/2008, -1/+3Stupid.
- nathanww, on 10/11/2008, -5/+6That is an awesome looking car
I WANT- nitesoIja, on 10/12/2008, -0/+3but were those circle windows really necessary? why circles...why
- mt330404, on 10/11/2008, -0/+21we need garbage-powered cars
- LightUrple, on 10/12/2008, -0/+12that travel through time
- barryiggins, on 10/12/2008, -0/+18Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads.
- grndslm, on 10/12/2008, -5/+1How about garbage-powered go-karts?!?
No seriously, tho. Just strap a motor on any regular pedal bicycle & call it a day.
See more here... http://motoredbikes.com/showthread.php?t=10392
Your welcome!
- blinktude, on 10/12/2008, -5/+4so....how much gasoline does it use to run the air compressor?
- yosisme, on 10/12/2008, -1/+7That's the funny thing about electricity; unlike combustion engines, it can be generated from any number of clean fuel sources such as wind, solar, hydro, etc. So, effectively, the answer to your question is, if it is done right, none.
- reqork, on 10/12/2008, -0/+4A backwards facing seat? Who wants to sit staring at the driver behind you?
Or would that be in front of you? Now I'm confused. Damn you France!- nesagwa, on 10/12/2008, -0/+5When I was a kid my parents had a buick station wagon with a rear facing seat in the very back that would fold down.
It sucked sitting back there.
"Hey, I wonder what those road signs say..."- HonestAbe, on 10/13/2008, -0/+2No way. Making faces at everyone was great.
- waspbr, on 10/12/2008, -1/+2Those would make great city cabbies tho
- nesagwa, on 10/12/2008, -0/+5When I was a kid my parents had a buick station wagon with a rear facing seat in the very back that would fold down.
- Canadaa, on 10/12/2008, -1/+3hmmm how much? if it's under 1000 put me on the list
- mikecx, on 10/12/2008, -7/+3Am I the only one sick of all of these "city only" cars that wouldn't survive a car crash, can't get up past old lady speeds, and make you look like you're driving Fisher Prices' latest invention?
I understand that it's cool that it can run on compressed air and it's cool that we are finding alternative fuels but give us something workable. Just because it's green doesn't make it a good idea. It has to be green, reasonably priced, and comparable to current gas based vehicles or you'll only see it in the hands of those who feel that being so green makes them somehow better than the rest of us just trying to get to where we are going.
As a side note, I walk to work on most days, use the energy saving light bulbs, and in general don't try to be stupid when it comes to energy. Why? Not because it's green or because it makes me better than other people but because it saves me money. If this car can get up to 75mph, still get 130 miles per fill up, can be refilled in close to the same time a gas car can, and costs roughly the same as a mid-size economy sedan, well then consider me sold. - marshallpeck, on 10/12/2008, -0/+4Well, *****. I keep rolling over this ever expanding Lincoln ad so I can never ***** look at this thing.
- Residents, on 10/12/2008, -1/+2That thing looks hilarious, I'm a fan. Strap on a ghetto blaster and rick roll everyone from that thing.
- cleansoap, on 10/12/2008, -1/+4The efficiency of compressing air is horrible.
The energy density of compressed air is horrible.- HonestAbe, on 10/13/2008, -0/+2The safety of compressed air is horrible.
- waliwalu, on 10/12/2008, -2/+3Is nitrous powered by my farts?
- Jeffler, on 10/12/2008, -4/+5http://digg.com/odd_stuff/What_s_Wrong_With_Digg_P ...
- cday, on 10/12/2008, -0/+3Jeffler, you seem much too desperate for attention. It's just my own opinion, of course, but after seeing these silly "What's wrong with Digg" links WAY too many times today, I believe annoying little pipsqueaks like YOU just might be the problem.
If the rest of us don't like what jaybol (or mrbabyman, or whoever) submits we will decide for ourselves to digg, or bury.
YOU, on the other hand, we'll just block and report as spam.
So, just stop it, okay?- Jeffler, on 10/12/2008, -1/+2I don't blame Jaybol, in fact I support him and the top diggers. The submission was more about the algorithm.
- cday, on 10/12/2008, -0/+3Jeffler, you seem much too desperate for attention. It's just my own opinion, of course, but after seeing these silly "What's wrong with Digg" links WAY too many times today, I believe annoying little pipsqueaks like YOU just might be the problem.
- juliohm, on 10/12/2008, -1/+3Do they really have to make it look like a stupid sci-fi geeky ass looking spaceships?
Cars that run on water or higdrogen already exist... but everytime they show up, they look like this futuristic crap none one would ever want to drive... and people wonder why they still haven't caught up.- cleansoap, on 10/12/2008, -0/+2Water is "hydrogen ash". It is already burned hydrogen. It has no more energy to give.
I do not think it is the "futuristic crap appearance" of so-called water-powered cars which is why they still haven't caught up. I rather suspect it is the physical impossibility of them.
- cleansoap, on 10/12/2008, -0/+2Water is "hydrogen ash". It is already burned hydrogen. It has no more energy to give.
- Lendon2020, on 10/12/2008, -1/+6Fart and drive!
- therealrico, on 10/12/2008, -0/+3The American one sounds awesome and sucks at the same time. Click the link in the article to read about it. Its range would be 800 miles, but you would have to pump air into it for an hour. They say you can do it at home with your own compressor, but what if you live in an apartment and there is no compressor nearby? We are getting close to getting away from gasoline, but not quite yet.
- glitchbit, on 10/12/2008, -0/+2oh I don't know, keep an air compressor inside it and then just plug it into an electric outlet that you put quarters in. Simple solutions to simple problems.
- saucy05, on 10/12/2008, -0/+2Well isn't it the same thing with electric cars, if you don't have an outlet you can plug them into, don't buy them. the air compressor would probably be optional when you buy the car.
This car is great, but still i would wait for the second generation before jumping in to a an unproven technology.
- rswelling, on 10/12/2008, -0/+4You need electricity to fill the air compressor, so it's not entirely powered by air is it...for now I'll put my hopes in the VW 1 Liter which actually looks cool in addition to being extremely efficient. It is speculatively going to be priced 20-30k which is almost in the affordable range.
http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/top-vw-1-liter-c ... - dafragsta, on 10/12/2008, -0/+3It looks like a Little Tikes car.
- stotty, on 10/12/2008, -0/+9It's like the designers and manufacturers of these things want it to fail. Every time a new eco vehicle comes along that could make a breakthrough in green technology they make it look ridiculous. That just repulses the majority and then the technology never gets the chance to take off.
- fleabomber, on 10/12/2008, -4/+2haha Tata Motors.
- Depthfunction, on 10/12/2008, -1/+2I love the idea of air-powered cars, but those things look like little more than golf carts.
- AlienMushroom, on 10/12/2008, -0/+4They never get it. Can't people just build some eco-friendly cars that look "normal"? WTF!
- shanesemler, on 10/12/2008, -1/+2I'll add to the chorus and say it's a great idea, to bad it looks stupid as hell. Different can be cool but this is not that. Why not call it the "Fart Knocker" and make it look like a giant ass (you could climb in through a small door from the back) - could it be any less appealing?
- grndslm, on 10/12/2008, -1/+1Skip the BS, and ride a bicycle -- a motorized bicycle!!!
You choose what you want to ride... a recumbent trike, a folding bike, a BMX, a 26" mountain bike, a cruiser, or whatever. You could get anywhere from 150MPG, 45 MPH all the way to 250 MPG, 30 MPH. You could add an internally "geared" CVT called the NuVinci and do even better on acceleration, speed, & mileage.
The possibilities are endless, and you can get up to speed by checking out this website... http://motoredbikes.com/showthread.php?t=10392 - Skurt, on 10/12/2008, -2/+1Tired of all these glorified golf carts, unsafe at any speed
Get a bike for Christ's sake...- giogalindo, on 10/12/2008, -0/+4a golf cart offers more protection in an accident then a bike.
- kolyana, on 10/12/2008, -0/+3A bicycle or motorbike? Either way - you are seriously saying that they are safer than these 'glorified golf carts'???
You are over extending yourself for the sake of disagreeing with people. This type of technology is a great step in the right direction and much better than littering up the roads with insanely large gas-guzzling, pollution spewing vehicles that [invariably] have one person sitting in them. It's complete illogical on every level, so a vehicle such as these makes sense.
I ride a motorbike to work and get pretty darn good mileage, but I wouldn't pretend that it's 'safe', and I know for sure (portland - on of the biking capitals of the US), that the bicycles aren't safe either.- Skurt, on 10/12/2008, -1/+1When it's all golf carts, then I will agree.
Otherwise, on a bike you have more maneuverability than any slow golf cart that is getting tail ended by faster, bigger, heavier regular car.
- Skurt, on 10/12/2008, -1/+1When it's all golf carts, then I will agree.
- frozensnake, on 10/12/2008, -0/+10too bad this car doesn't run on ugly.
- DangerCollie, on 10/12/2008, -1/+2I like it. The range is okay if they could do something about the speed and impact safety.
This is a gen 1 car. Give it a chance. It seems amazing you can run a car on compressed air, but carbon fiber tanks are light and carry a lot of pressure. Be interesting to see one of those tanks get the valve knocked off in an accident. Either the tanks would go ballistic or the car would have some unique stress applied to it. - xavyre, on 10/12/2008, -0/+3Great! Now we're going to run out of air if China gets this. Quick everyone plant a tree.
- cport11, on 10/12/2008, -0/+4and then air powered clowns jump out of the car....
- Laminarcissus, on 10/12/2008, -0/+4I've never understood this "just for city use" thing. I hate to break it to them, but those of us who live in the city only own one car, and that's to get us *out* of the city.
- NeoHomer, on 10/12/2008, -0/+3Looks like a rolling coffin. if this is the way cars are going, I'm NEVER gonna buy a new car.
I like my 22 year old car that gets over 30mpg AND can accelerate fast enough to be scary... No compromise. And my old car is far, far safer than theses rolling death bringers. Do you dummies understand the extreme pressures required for an air powered car? It's a rolling bomb. We're talking pressures into the thousands of pounds per square inch. The compressors needed would be hideously expensive and there's no getting around the rolling bomb issue. Lame indeed.- MrARPA, on 10/12/2008, -1/+4>there's no getting around the rolling bomb issue.
You're wrong, the carbon fibre tanks just crack and the air safely escapes -
"One of the most frequently asked questions is about the safety of the compressed air storage tanks. These tanks hold 90 cubic metres of air compressed to 300 bars. Many people ask whether this system is dangerous in case of an accident and if there is a risk of explosion. The answer is NO. Why? Because these are the same tanks used to carry the liquid gas used by buses for public transport. The tanks enjoy the same technology developed to contain natural gas. They are designed and officially approved to carry an explosive product: methane gas.
In the case of a major accident, where the tanks are ruptured, they would not explode since they are not metal. Instead they would crack, as they are made of carbon fibre. An elongated crack would appear in the tank, without exploding, and the air would simply escape, producing a loud but harmless noise. Of course, since this technology is licenced to transport an inflammable and explosive gas (Natural gas), it is perfectly capable inoffensive and non-flammable air."
http://www.aircarcompressedairtechnology.com/more- ...
- MrARPA, on 10/12/2008, -1/+4>there's no getting around the rolling bomb issue.
- CouchTomato, on 10/12/2008, -1/+2They should lose the wheels and make it hover.
- Ibox, on 10/12/2008, -0/+2http://www1.eere.energy.gov/industry/bestpractices ... ... I've actually been to this class and a few others. basically in a good properly constructed compressed air system it takes 8 horse power to get one horse power of work... I don't care is your using electricity or fossil fuels to compress the air it would be way more efficient to just use the motor/ engine off the air compressor you used to compress the air in the first place. BTW. the air master software in the link is a very great resource for anyone in the industrial field...
- rento, on 10/12/2008, -0/+2Jees... wait for the City CAT man.
- runaton077, on 10/12/2008, -0/+2Great idea, but its going to have some problems when used in cold places.
- Eloosive, on 10/12/2008, -0/+4The biggest turn-off for any of these alternatively powered vehicles, is that, according to the aesthetic designers, they always have to look so damned goofy. I'd totally get an electric car, or air powered one, but make it look sporty or semi-normal. You can have low drag co-efficients, just stop all the nonsense with the weird styling. People want alternative energy powered vehicles, not alternatively designed looks. If I want something that looks downright strange and avant-guard, any fashion show in Milan or Paris has that in spades. Keep that BS off the cars.
- Technopundit, on 10/12/2008, -0/+3Sleep well to the sound of your idiot neighbor's air compressor.
- Matteo, on 10/12/2008, -0/+2Reminds me of the Dandy Lion SX from Pushing Daisies...
http://pushingdaisies.wikia.com/wiki/Dandy_Lion_SX - CdnBacon, on 10/13/2008, -1/+1Why not use a small gas powered engine to fill the air tanks. Minimal reliance on fossil fuels and you never have to worry about running out of air
- HonestAbe, on 10/13/2008, -0/+2Or just use a gas powered engine to power the vehicle.
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