City-CAT!

[Ironcat]

Okay, so diesel fuel smells,
regular cars pollute,
electric cars are too expensive, or ugly, or inefficient (take your pick)
hybrids are not all they are cracked up to be...

So what's the answer?

How about a car that runs on compressed air????

http://www.motordeaire.com/Img/FurgoNaranja.jpg

City-CAT (http://www.theaircar.com/)


http://www.motordeaire.com/ing/index_images/index.gif

[chaksq]

Okay, so diesel fuel smells,
regular cars pollute,
electric cars are too expensive, or ugly, or inefficient (take your pick)
hybrids are not all they are cracked up to be...

Very interesting albeit not attractive. Unfortunately that will cause them to sell horribly in the US. Also there are no mainstream dealers for them anywhere causing issues with maintenance, availability, wait lists, and the like. I think the concept is good but I doubt it will sell real well.

Another issue is that it charges using electricity, the majority of electricity is generated using fossil fuels. This technology could push the pollution problems to different venues. This however is probably not as much of an issue as it could be. And there are better ways to generate electricty, we just need to learn to use them.

I wonder if I could mod the engine for more power like I do with my Escort. Seems like an easier technology to increase power on than electric.

[b4i7]

actually... all you would need is a compressor that is powered electrically, and an alternator to recharge the batteries that power the compressor....

[Helix666]

actually... all you would need is a compressor that is powered electrically, and an alternator to recharge the batteries that power the compressor....

Yeah, but you'd still need to charge it from a 'base station' occasionally. It's kind of a regenerative braking thing, what you've just described. It would mean you'd need to recharge it less but remember:
You cannae break the laws of thermodynamics. </Scotty> :)
Remember, you're always going to be 'losing' energy in the form of heat in the wiring, as sound and heat from the compressor, etc. etc.
</geek_mode>
(Dear god... Did I actually say that crap? ^^)

(sort-of) Interesting link: http://www.driveev.com/jeepev/home.php

[Eclecticos]

There was something on the news about a car that runs on water Here (http://www.metacafe.com/watch/67009/stan_meyers_water_powered_car/)
It ain't preddy. But H2O. .now that thinking! If they can get one to run on Saltwater I will be out there with buckets everyday. .LoL :D Recent News Here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZOsOB3z3IE) Denny Klein, in Clearwater, FL

[OvRiDe]

The earliest cars ran on a very similar concept. STEAM I have been following this vehicle for a while. In fact you can read my post on it in THIS (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showpost.php?p=111851&postcount=33) thread ;) I find it very appealing for city driving. Jay Leno has an extensive collection of antique steam powered cars. When they are moving them around, alot of times they don't want to fire up the boiler and wait for it to heat up, so they can attach a compressed air line to it and off they go. Now that the machining process has been refined, tighter tolerances, and current technology, they can create much more efficient engines of this type.