World's First Air-Powered Car: Zero Emissions by Next Summer

[SLCPUNK]

By Matt Sullivan

India?s largest automaker is set to start producing the world?s first commercial air-powered vehicle. The Air Car, developed by ex-Formula One engineer Guy N?gre for Luxembourg-based MDI, uses compressed air, as opposed to the gas-and-oxygen explosions of internal-combustion models, to push its engine?s pistons. Some 6000 zero-emissions Air Cars are scheduled to hit Indian streets in August of 2008.

Barring any last-minute design changes on the way to production, the Air Car should be surprisingly practical. The $12,700 CityCAT, one of a handful of planned Air Car models, can hit 68 mph and has a range of 125 miles. It will take only a few minutes for the CityCAT to refuel at gas stations equipped with custom air compressor units; MDI says it should cost around $2 to fill the car?s carbon-fiber tanks with 340 liters of air at 4350 psi. Drivers also will be able to plug into the electrical grid and use the car?s built-in compressor to refill the tanks in about 4 hours.

Of course, the Air Car will likely never hit American shores, especially considering its all-glue construction. But that doesn?t mean the major automakers can write it off as a bizarre Indian experiment ? MDI has signed deals to bring its design to 12 more countries, including Germany, Israel and South Africa.

[Bill 213]

The day Exxon, BP, Shell and other oil companies allow that or any type of non-gas powered engine on American shores will be the day I crap a pig out of my ass and it flies away.  Not only would everyone from the Saudi's to the Bush family suffer, but it would probably be declared unpatriotic to drive such an ungodly invention.  Freedom isn't free!  It's our patriotic duty to consume as much gasoline at the higest rate possible.

[SLCPUNK]

I was never stoopid enough to believe I really lived in a democracy....

On topic: Tell me that isn't awesome though.

[Alan]

ugly

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

It's a start.

[freedom78]

ugly

I agree...most vehicles that aren't (primarily) gas powered are all ugly as fuck.  It always makes me wonder...do they WANT these to fail (the answer being yes)?

[CheapJon]

it's a taxi?

[polluxlm]

ugly

I agree...most vehicles that aren't (primarily) gas powered are all ugly as fuck.? It always makes me wonder...do they WANT these to fail (the answer being yes)?

It's simple. You don't hit on the boss' girlfriend at a Hells Angels party. You go for the chubby one on the corner.

[freedom78]

It's simple. You don't hit on the boss' girlfriend at a Hells Angels party. You go for the chubby one on the corner.

Wise words, from a man with a Bill Clinton avatar. 

[freedom78]

Of course, seeing as this is an Indian car, if it can gain major traction in India it could do a great deal to help one of two or three major population/industrialization crises.  In other words, there are 1,000,000,000 Indians.  If they (and the Chinese) start driving like Europeans or, God forbid, Americans, this world is pretty much fucked.

[25]

Not only would everyone from the Saudi's to the Bush family suffer, but it would probably be declared unpatriotic to drive such an ungodly invention.  Freedom isn't free!  It's our patriotic duty to consume as much gasoline at the higest rate possible.

Let them make gas-powered air compressors. With all-plastic parts.

[25]

ugly

I agree...most vehicles that aren't (primarily) gas powered are all ugly as fuck.  It always makes me wonder...do they WANT these to fail (the answer being yes)?

I think it's all about the size, not the looks. These weird little cars tend to come from countries that don't have huge american roads and bad american drivers.

But they do have this;



I think that's from Egypt somewhere. You'll notice that the road has three lanes either side, and the traffic has five.

[SLCPUNK]

Who gives a shit what it looks like....it's a car that runs on fucking compressed AIR!!!!

[25]

Who gives a shit what it looks like....it's a car that runs on fucking compressed AIR!!!!

Exactly. Should be nice and easy to modify into an air-propelled road-rocket too, this 68mph limit seems bogus.

[SLCPUNK]

Who gives a shit what it looks like....it's a car that runs on fucking compressed AIR!!!!

Exactly. Should be nice and easy to modify into an air-propelled road-rocket too, this 68mph limit seems bogus.

It's a start, that's for damn sure.

I'd take a lower speed limit if it means less dependence on the sweet crude. Although by the time (if ever) we see something like this in America, I'm sure the speed limitations wouldn't be an issue ,as it probably would have evolved quite a bit by then.

[25]

I'd take a lower speed limit if it means less dependence on the sweet crude. Although by the time (if ever) we see something like this in America, I'm sure the speed limitations wouldn't be an issue ,as it probably would have evolved quite a bit by then.

You could probably import one. I'm fairly sure the extra cost would be nullified by the fuel savings in a very short time. And you'd make the local news.

[SLCPUNK]

I was going to convert a diesel this summer to biofuel, but don't have the time yet. Never seem to have time.......or a big enough garage for all my projects.

[jabba2]

I was going to convert a diesel this summer to biofuel, but don't have the time yet. Never seem to have time.......or a big enough garage for all my projects.

My dad has a biofuel 2005 Jetta. He gets over 50mpg. I keep trying to convivce him to just run 90% used vegetable oil as the car will start and run with it. Though mpg would probably be in the 35-45mpg range, but it will run.


Ethonal will probably be the new gasoline if they can figure out a way to mass produce it. Has extremely low emissions. But it is hard to make in bulk.

[Prometheus]

canada has tossed about 200MILLION into ethnol research....... Huskey Oil has been mass producing it for an addative for gas for the last few years

SOOOOO give it a few years and we will hook ye yanks up with it

[freedom78]

canada has tossed about 200MILLION into ethnol research....... Huskey Oil has been mass producing it for an addative for gas for the last few years

SOOOOO give it a few years and we will hook ye yanks up with it

I'm afraid not.  By then enough of the ice will have melted, driving the polar bears south, wherein they will feed on the unfortunate Canadians. 

[SLCPUNK]

I was going to convert a diesel this summer to biofuel, but don't have the time yet. Never seem to have time.......or a big enough garage for all my projects.

My dad has a biofuel 2005 Jetta. He gets over 50mpg. I keep trying to convivce him to just run 90% used vegetable oil as the car will start and run with it. Though mpg would probably be in the 35-45mpg range, but it will run.


Ethonal will probably be the new gasoline if they can figure out a way to mass produce it. Has extremely low emissions. But it is hard to make in bulk.

The other problem with Ethanol is that it actually reduces the overall MPG on the car.

Yea, diesels can run on just about anything. I understand his concern since the Jetta is relatively new. I am looking at an older diesel that I can convert to run on veggie oil only, fill 'er up at the restaurant of my choice.

[C0ma]

Bio Diesel may be the way to go, but E85 doesn't seem to be:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/03/050329132436.htm

[GNRreunioneventually]

O M G i bet Exxon, BP, and Shell are shitty themselves

btw how much power this thing have? next to nothin is what i'm betting on

untill they come out with something that can match my truck i'll stick to my gas guseler................ ohh who am i kidding wheres the exchange office?

[Gordon Gekko]

Biofuel brews up higher German beer prices

Farmers abandoning barley for crops that produce ethanol

Updated: 1:41 p.m. ET May 30, 2007

AYING, Germany - Like most Germans, brewer Helmut Erdmann is all for the fight against global warming. Unless, that is, it drives up the price of his beer.

And that is exactly what is happening to Erdmann and other German brewers as farmers abandon barley ? the raw material for the national beverage ? to plant other, subsidized crops for sale as environmentally friendly biofuels.

"Beer prices are a very emotional issue in Germany ? people expect it to be as inexpensive as other basic staples like eggs, bread and milk," said Erdmann, director of the family-owned Ayinger brewery in Aying, an idyllic village nestled between Bavaria's rolling hills and dark forests with the towering Alps on the far horizon.

"With the current spike in barley prices, we won't be able to avoid a price increase of our beer any longer," Erdmann said, stopping to sample his freshly brewed, golden product right from the steel fermentation kettle.

In the last two years, the price of barley has doubled to $271 per ton as farmers plant more crops such as rapeseed and corn that can be turned into ethanol or biodiesel, a fuel made from vegetable oil.

As a result, the price for the key ingredient in beer ? barley malt, or barley that has been allowed to germinate ? has soared by more than 40 percent, to around 385 euros or $522 per ton, from around 270 euros a ton two years ago, according to the Bavarian Brewers' Association.

[freedom78]

Biofuel brews up higher German beer prices

I recently saw a similar article about tequila, where agave fields are being planted with biodiesel crops, instead.

Rather stupid, considering all those farmers who are paid to NOT grow, so as to artificially raise prices.

[stolat]

Oh, I get off on car fumes.....

[25]

Oh, I get off on car fumes.....

You must love the smell of napalm in the morning.

[stolat]

Shit. Still in Saigon.....

Hey 1007 posts! Shaken but not stirred!

[25]

As for the charges against me, I am unconcerned. I am beyond their timid lying morality, and so I am beyond caring.

[stolat]

As for the charges against me, I am unconcerned. I am beyond their timid lying morality, and so I am beyond caring.

First toke of the day?

Or your name wouldn't happen to end in Hicks would it!

[25]

First toke of the day?

Or your name wouldn't happen to end in Hicks would it!

I'm not a stoner (anymore), I am fueled by pure boredom. But I do love Bill.

[stolat]

First toke of the day?

Or your name wouldn't happen to end in Hicks would it!

I'm not a stoner (anymore), I am fueled by pure boredom. But I do love Bill.

That's David Hicks you idiot!

[meanmachine73]

Like most recently released forms of technology that involve cutting out the oil industry.

Their business and intellectual property will be purchased by guess who?   Yep you guessed it one of the big oil companies or a collaboration of companies.

[25]

That's David Hicks you idiot!

No, the only Hicks is Bill Hicks. I refuse to acknowledge any other Hicks.