TREE huggers and those who lament the use or abuse of non-renewable resources, especially in the generation of energy and power, should take a long hard look at the proposed technology that is being touted by Motor Development Inc. founder Guy Negre and his manufacturer of choice, Tata Motors.
Yes, the same Tata Motors that has dared to bring forth the $2,500 car — while purchasing high-end Jaguar and Land Rover from a sputtering Ford Motor Company. The car invented by Mr. Negre is powered by compressed air. A full load of compressed air that can presumably be available in many or most gas stations takes only a few minutes to load and will take the prototype car a full 125 miles (200 km).
Now one has to take a long hard look at the Indian market and realize just how practical they are about their cars. The Maruti car company manufactures a local version of the Suzuki Alto which has a minuscule 800cc engine. This car may seat four or a maximum of five people anywhere else, but the intrepid Indians manage to shoehorn seven people in there! Imagine what they will do to a car designed for seven, as the first proposed model of the air car will do since it is supposed to perform yeoman’s chores as an everyday taxi.
The first model is to be named the CityCat and will cost about $12,500 — roughly the cost of a Corolla in most countries. It will run at a maximum speed of 68 mph (almost 110 kph) — just enough to stay within most speed limits, but putting a damper on the speed demons out there — which should get one from point A to point B in good time.
Now, this is probably the best idea for a practical car there is today. It will not spew any dangerous fumes or probably create a large carbon footprint. And air is available anywhere at a pittance compared to either the stratosphere-riding cost of gasoline and other alternative fuels. Until a viable solar powered car comes along, this will be the technology to beat.
Read about this amazing technology in the following threads.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_car
http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/mar2007/bw20070319_949435.htm?campaign_id=rss_topDiscussed
August 9th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
For the Philippines, it is geothermal energy source that we have plenty of. Second only to the U.S., no other country beat the Philippines. I don’t believe anybody who tells me that a car that runs on compressed air would cost $12,000 U.S. dollars. It can be made cheaper than that because there are no complicated mechanism. It is like an air compressor running the turbine of a power tool used by carpenters.
August 4th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
This sound great in theory, but this kind of engine has it disadvantages. It is hard to control, not efficient, and could be dangerous, dou to gas expention, and hit.
The future is still an electric car, that its energy come from large scale production of electricity form the sun power.
July 10th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Remember Dingle, the Filipino inventor on the use of water to run cars? Where is he? Did he sell his invention to the German or the Japanese? He is so innovative but government did not support him. Where are you Mr. Dingle?
July 9th, 2008 at 10:59 am
you should’ve seen this episode of “futurecar” on discovery channel. many different ways of powering a car, including compressed air. the key breakthrough was developing an air compressor that also runs on compressed air. the only challenge that remains is mounting that compressor onto a car, and in theory, it should be able to run indefinitely.
the challenge that faces “green” cars is the consumer demand in terms of creature features. this compressed air car doesn’t have power-adjustable seats, air conditioning, air bags, or any of that. it even has to have a very light carbon-fiber body to get to regular city speeds. it doesn’t even have a windshield. we have yet to develop a green engine that can do all the things that a gas- or diesel-powered engine can.
July 8th, 2008 at 6:14 am
For the Philippines, it is geothermal energy source that we have plenty of. Second only to the U.S., no other country beat the Philippines. I don’t believe anybody who tells me that a car that runs on compressed air would cost $12,000 U.S. dollars. It can be made cheaper than that because there are no complicated mechanism. It is like an air compressor running the turbine of a power tool used by carpenters.