Oil Problem Solved - India Presents the Air Car

Arbitrary · 07-03-2007, 11:08 PM

Air Car - First Air-Powered Car - Zero Emissions - Behind the Tech - Popular Mechanics

68 mph top speed, max range 125 miles, 2 bucks to refill the tank.

Stories like these really help restore my faith in the power of the market. While American car companies and oil industry don't seem that interested in change (yet), the hungry will find a way to get fed. It is in the best interest of a developing country such as India to be find alternatives to their energy situation as soon as possible.

I'd buy one today if I could but I doubt it would pass a crash test.

Zuuljin · 07-03-2007, 11:14 PM

Very interesting. Hope to see something like that come stateside.

Algol Devilstar · 07-03-2007, 11:17 PM

4000psi air tank, hrm I sense oil companies claiming that crashes will cause that tank to blow up and consumers will follow their lead like sheep.

Zuuljin · 07-03-2007, 11:21 PM

Thats actually the first thing I thought when I read that. But thinking about a 14-15 gallon tank filled with flammable gasoline doesnt sound that much safer. =P

I know there was a movie on this, but what ever happened to electric cars? It seemed everyone was gearing up, there were refuling stations being built, then out of nowhere, nothing. They all disapeared. The only electric vehicles I see now are the golf carts people drive around on, the segways, and that badass Tesla, but that thing is way too much money.

Sabyn · 07-03-2007, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arbitrary

Air Car - First Air-Powered Car - Zero Emissions - Behind the Tech - Popular Mechanics

68 mph top speed, max range 125 miles, 2 bucks to refill the tank.

Stories like these really help restore my faith in the power of the market. While American car companies and oil industry don't seem that interested in change (yet), the hungry will find a way to get fed. It is in the best interest of a developing country such as India to be find alternatives to their energy situation as soon as possible.

I'd buy one today if I could but I doubt it would pass a crash test.

That is pretty cool. Nice to see more options available for non-internal combustion engine cars. Any word on its acceleration? I wouldn't buy one though, 68 mph is way too slow.

The "all glue" construction thing is kinda weird. Does it use some kind of special epoxy or is it pretty standard I wonder?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Algol Devilstar

4000psi air tank, hrm I sense oil companies claiming that crashes will cause that tank to blow up and consumers will follow their lead like sheep.

Mythbusters took care of that. Their episode with ruptured compressed air tanks showed they didn't explode, though maybe this car is different.

brekk · 07-03-2007, 11:26 PM

and where do they get the energy to run the compressor to fill the tank?

OHHHHHH Right.

Back to the drawing board.

Zuuljin · 07-03-2007, 11:28 PM

They get it from electricity generated through your local grid. That can be wind powered, solar powered, nuclear powered etc etc. No gasoline needed.

Arbitrary · 07-03-2007, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brekk

and where do they get the energy to run the compressor to fill the tank?

OHHHHHH Right.

Back to the drawing board.

We are talking about two bucks worth of electricity to go 125 miles when gas is over three dollars per gallon.

Wind, solar, nuclear, hydroelectric, we've got that covered but it doesn't make our cars go.

tikkus · 07-03-2007, 11:37 PM

Time to start learning the Indian language/culture.

Moontayle · 07-03-2007, 11:40 PM

I've seen this before on some discovery channel special (Future Cars) and my first thought was that in order for it to catch on in the states, we first have to shed our fear of small cars.

Though I can guarantee if they put this system into a Mini Cooper, people would jump all over it.

Saban · 07-03-2007, 11:47 PM

get brad pitt or someone else retardedly famous to drive it.

Zarcath · 07-04-2007, 12:00 AM

yeah i'm a little confused as to the whole all-glue construction.

couldn't you put solar panels on the roof and it'd be completely autonomous?

brekk · 07-04-2007, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zarcath

yeah i'm a little confused as to the whole all-glue construction.

"all-glue" is very ambiguous.

Carbon Fiber and Fiber Glass are held together by "all-glue"

RiskyChris · 07-04-2007, 12:06 AM

Oil companies buy out air car idea for US $10 billion, news at 11.

Borzak · 07-04-2007, 12:10 AM

That car will get 0.5MPG and travel a max distance of 47 feet when brought to the US where it will require front and rear bumpers, airbags and enough safety equipment for a shuttle launch and winds up weighing as much as lead sled.....no kidding.

07-03-2007, 11:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
brekk Warning: objects may appear more edible than they actually are Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The CT Posts: 6,404 +17 Internets	and where do they get the energy to run the compressor to fill the tank? OHHHHHH Right. Back to the drawing board. __________________ Brekk SPriest Liesol LOLRet Frstshck Enhance

07-03-2007, 11:47 PM	#11 (permalink)
Saban Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,344 +5 Internets	get brad pitt or someone else retardedly famous to drive it. __________________ Saban - Paladin, Dark Iron I does things.

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07-03-2007, 11:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
Zuuljin So there's this plane on a treadmill... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,218 +20 Internets	Very interesting. Hope to see something like that come stateside.

07-03-2007, 11:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Algol Devilstar Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The NW Posts: 3,497 +0 Internets	4000psi air tank, hrm I sense oil companies claiming that crashes will cause that tank to blow up and consumers will follow their lead like sheep.

07-03-2007, 11:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
Zuuljin So there's this plane on a treadmill... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,218 +20 Internets	Thats actually the first thing I thought when I read that. But thinking about a 14-15 gallon tank filled with flammable gasoline doesnt sound that much safer. =P I know there was a movie on this, but what ever happened to electric cars? It seemed everyone was gearing up, there were refuling stations being built, then out of nowhere, nothing. They all disapeared. The only electric vehicles I see now are the golf carts people drive around on, the segways, and that badass Tesla, but that thing is way too much money.

07-03-2007, 11:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
Zuuljin So there's this plane on a treadmill... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,218 +20 Internets	They get it from electricity generated through your local grid. That can be wind powered, solar powered, nuclear powered etc etc. No gasoline needed.

07-03-2007, 11:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
Moontayle Brilliant! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,827	I've seen this before on some discovery channel special (Future Cars) and my first thought was that in order for it to catch on in the states, we first have to shed our fear of small cars. Though I can guarantee if they put this system into a Mini Cooper, people would jump all over it.

07-04-2007, 12:00 AM	#12 (permalink)
Zarcath is a little tea pot. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Carlsbad CA Posts: 6,466 +75 Internets	yeah i'm a little confused as to the whole all-glue construction. couldn't you put solar panels on the roof and it'd be completely autonomous?

07-04-2007, 12:06 AM	#14 (permalink)
RiskyChris Safety Dance Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: West Lafayette Posts: 5,702 +0 Internets	Oil companies buy out air car idea for US $10 billion, news at 11.

07-04-2007, 12:10 AM	#15 (permalink)
Borzak Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,127	That car will get 0.5MPG and travel a max distance of 47 feet when brought to the US where it will require front and rear bumpers, airbags and enough safety equipment for a shuttle launch and winds up weighing as much as lead sled.....no kidding.