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  1. Join Date
    Dec 2003
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    546
    #1
    http://www.theaircar.com/index.html

    if im not mistaken, no matter how far engineers go in refininng the combustion engine, it has reached its limitation, heavy weight, poor power conversion, etc etc

    this new technology aims to reduce fossil fuel comsumption of cars by 2000%. how? by using compressed air, how do we compress air? by using a small petrol powered compressor on board the car.

    basically its a sound idea if you read it, claims 300km per tank load of COmpressed air, if ever u ran out, just turn on your mini petrol compressor and fill your tanks with compressed air, all under 3 minutes.

    kelan kaya daratin to sa pinas.

  2. Join Date
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    546
    #2
    aircondition? its the whole process of air decomppression, no CFC or aircon compressor, basically it claims that when compressed air decompresses thru exhaust its temperature is between 0 to -15 celsius,

    astig

  3. Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Posts
    29,354
    #3
    Quote Originally Posted by Mojo
    http://www.theaircar.com/index.html

    if im not mistaken, no matter how far engineers go in refininng the combustion engine, it has reached its limitation, heavy weight, poor power conversion, etc etc

    this new technology aims to reduce fossil fuel comsumption of cars by 2000%. how? by using compressed air, how do we compress air? by using a small petrol powered compressor on board the car.

    basically its a sound idea if you read it, claims 300km per tank load of COmpressed air, if ever u ran out, just turn on your mini petrol compressor and fill your tanks with compressed air, all under 3 minutes.

    kelan kaya daratin to sa pinas.
    The concept is sound. But there are a few hang-ups. You will still need to use fuel (gasoline/diesel/etc) to fill your air-tanks with compressed air. The compressed air is simply the stored energy of the fuel used to compressed it.

    Question, what is the mechanical efficiency of the compressor and of the air-engine and then compare this to the mechanical efficiency of a current internal combustion engine or alternatives like electric-gas hybrid cars.

    The air-car concept as mentioned in the website linked above is simply another twist of a hybrid powered car. We can call it compressed air-gasoline hybrid car (as compared to electric-gasoline hybrid) since the compressor system is carried on the vehicle itself.

    BTW, the taxi variant is interesting. I wonder how much such a vehicle would sell if it would be sold in the local market?
    Last edited by ghosthunter; April 20th, 2005 at 12:47 PM.

  4. Join Date
    Dec 2003
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    546
    #4
    true

    another twist, but hybrids do that too, we cant have a totally clean car, the power must come from somewhere, but the air car basically the cleaniest among the present technology we have.

    where can u find a car that instead of producing heat it produces cold air , it adds to the cooling effect? hehehe only time it produces heat when it compresses air using the mini compressor which is done between 3 to 5 minutes.



    here a nice thread about the car.

    http://www.theenvironmentsite.org/Fo...er=asc&start=0

    all cars hybrid or not, produces waste, aside from carrying cells which they say are toxic, if not disposed properlly.

    among the choices ill go for the aircar, atleast its simple, hybrids carry alot of junk like fuel cells, a full sized internal combusion engine, on board computers etc etc.

    on the aircar, it carries a minimum of those.

    i

  5. Join Date
    Dec 2003
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    546
    #5
    we all now internal combusion engine can only convert 30% of the energy into power, the rest of it is lost to friction, and heat, plus the weight/metal u need to haul arround to contain the heat, elimate friction, and contain the combustion.

    with the wieght of those, u need sturdier chassis, heavier suspension, which in turn demands more hydrailics etc etc

    in short its a mess

  6. Join Date
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    #6
    i dont really consider it as a air- gasoline hybrid, since u can get the compressedd air from refilling station if there are around na.

    if ever ur force to use the mini compressor ull be doin it between 3 to 5 minutes for a 200-300km distance.

  7. Join Date
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    #7
    Quote Originally Posted by Mojo
    i dont really consider it as a air- gasoline hybrid, since u can get the compressedd air from refilling station if there are around na.

    if ever ur force to use the mini compressor ull be doin it between 3 to 5 minutes for a 200-300km distance.

    the energy used to compress the air still has to come from somewhere. There is no "free lunch". We aren't talking about going to your local gas station, this will be a totally new infrastructure to support this concept.

    How much energy (kilowatt/hours) will be needed to fill one 300 bar compressed air tank?

    btw, i doubt if your local gas station air hose will supply 4351psi of air.
    Last edited by ghosthunter; April 20th, 2005 at 12:56 PM.

  8. Join Date
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    #8
    Here's a hitch, 300 bars of pressure in the compressed air tank. Thats about 4,351psi. wow!

    if ever that air tank ruptures, I do not want to be sitting on top of it.

  9. Join Date
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    #9
    wow when the time comes these cars become mainstream maybe mercs n ferrarris will have falling prices hehe

  10. Join Date
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    546
    #10
    the tank is made of carbon fiber, no explosion only cracks, since its not metal.

    the carbon fiber technology is licensed from airbus.





    Compressed air tanks

    One of the most frequently asked questions is about the safety of the compressed air storage tanks. These tanks hold 90 cubic metres of air compressed to 300 bars. Many people ask whether this system is dangerous in case of an accident and if there is a risk of explosion. The answer is NO. Why? Because these are the same tanks used to carry the liquid gas used by buses for public transport. The tanks enjoy the same technology developed to contain natural gas. They are designed and officially approved to carry an explosive product: methane gas.

    In the case of a major accident, where the tanks are ruptured, they would not explode since they are not metal. Instead they would crack, as they are made of carbon fibre. An elongated crack would appear in the tank, without exploding, and the air would simply escape, producing a loud but harmless noise. Of course, since this technology is licenced to transport an inflammable and explosive gas (Natural gas), it is perfectly capable inoffensive and non-flammable air.

    It is fitting, therefore, that MDI has reached an agreement with the European leader in aerospace technology Airbus Industries for the manufacture of the compressed air storage tanks. With a remote supervision arrangement, Airbus Industries oversees the making of the storage tanks at each MDI factory. The coiled carbon fibre technology used in the construction of the tanks is complex and requires a substantial quality control process which the multinational company, home of the Airbus aircraft, will provide for our vehicles.

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