Sci/Tech The Car Powered By Air

[Romek]

The search for sustainable, zero emission alternatives to oil-based fuels is a number one priority for carmakers.

And though hydrogen has many attractive properties there's still the problem of extraction, storage and transportation.

No such issue for this futuristic, cute little city car. It literally runs on thin air! Built by French firm MDI (standing for Motor Development International) the AIRPod is part of the firm's continuing research into zero emissions compressed air and dual fuel engines and the latest in a line of prototypes built by the firm.

A tricycle urban transport vehicle with seating for three adults and one child, the AIRPod is just over 2m long and 1.6m wide - 70mm shorter than a smart - and weighs just 220kg. The engine runs simply on compressed air, stored in a tank and good for a range of around 60 miles.

KLM Testing MDI AirPod Compressed Air Cars at Schiphol; UC Berkeley Study Finds Compressed Air Cars Significantly Less Efficient than Battery Electric Vehicles

The AirPod. Click to enlarge. France-based MDI (Moteur Development International), the developer of a compressed air powertrain and several derivative vehicles, officially handed over the keys to two AirPods to KLM earlier in December. The AirPods are under testing for a minimum period of three...

www.greencarcongress.com

 

[H34DhUnT3r]

why do they always look like freaking scifi-shitcars =.=

 

[Vicboy]

Hell no, car innovators are being retarded with their designs.

 

[T.s.e]

Haha, the design from the future! A neat idea though, far more practical than silly gargantuan hydrogen tanks >.<

 

[LiVam]

Very cute

 

[Exfyre]

air car vs. hummer+ =P
i choose the hummer

 

[sqrage]

They're probably designed so ugly for aerodynamics and light-weight. But as the technology gets more scalable, they should come out with better looking designs.



...hopefully.

 

[Jindo]

why do they always look like freaking scifi-shitcars =.=

air powered cars didn't exist until now D:

 

[sjakie]

Looks like it drove away out of a 4-year olds toybox >.<

 

[Jolly chap*]

Would be strange riding in one of those. But hey, if it's more effective than what we have now ...

 

[Romek]

> But as the technology gets more scalable, they should come out with better looking designs.
Or people would just get used to them, and they'd be 'normal'.

 

[thewrongvine]

Just because it's more efficient doesn't mean it has to look strange... weird people.

~Hai-Bye-Vine~

 

[Samael88]

I was like: "WTF"

Then I read the part where it said, compressed air

 

[Manix]

I'd say a compressed family mobile - minivan - true men's hell ... lol ... srsly why do they always look like shitty trashcans .... Who'd drive this crap ?

Bout the technology - that's rly nice, It was bout time for us to stop destroyin the ozone layer, yeah like we've stopped that but like whatever... +1 good thing aint gonna hurt us.

 

[seph ir oth]

So, the car runs on compressed air, which is obtained with electricity, which is produced from ...

Oh, forget it. Just push for the hydrogen car already!

 

[Azlier]

>So, the car runs on compressed air, which is obtained with electricity, which is produced from ...

Those were my thoughts exactly .

 

[Romek]

Same applies to nearly every renewable energy source.
They usually need a lot of energy to extract/make/separate, which requires electricity, which comes from..

Or they are just very energy-costly to build.

 

[Exfyre]

save for the bicycle. No need for fuel, carries up to 12 people (for special bikes), and has no emissions. It's the wondrous solution to all our energy problems.

 

[Narks]

But if the electricity comes from renewable sources...

 

[phyrex1an]

Same applies to nearly every renewable energy source.

Though, compressed air isn't an energy source. It's an energy storage and a very poor one too.
Same thing goes for hydrogen, it's somewhat better but still not very efficient compared with a real battery.