gsd - 25-2-2007 at 06:34
I came across this very interesting website
http://www.theaircar.com/
gsd
[Edited on 25-2-2007 by gsd]
Elawr - 25-2-2007 at 07:10
The aircar is intriguing for sure. At first glance, you would not think compressed air to be a viable energy storage for an automobile. However, if
you think about it, you realize that efficiency would depend upon air tanks capable of containing really insanely high pressures coupled with a way to
capture the substantial heat generated by compressing the air. Looks like these guys are well on the way towards making this a workable concept,
perhaps competitive with chemical batteries. As materials improve, I expect higher pressures can be acheived. At what pressure does air become
supercritical at ambient temp?
Another plus would be that the aircar needs no air conditioner! 
vulture - 25-2-2007 at 07:38
I wouldn't like to see a, say, 200bar pressure container being exposed to the shock of a car accident. Tipping them over usually suffices for some
*serious* mayhem.
12AX7 - 25-2-2007 at 10:39
Liquified and pressurized gas, maybe. Might want to go heavy and dilute it with LN2...
Looks like a lot of buzz and no information ("for secrecy").
Tim
air pros and cons
roamingnome - 25-2-2007 at 11:28
pneumatic possibilites are very exciting.
when im not tinkering with strait chemistry im trying to build a ...(tesla) turbine which will run on compressed air.
but after you run the numbers compressed air runs out quick. With carbon fiber tanks 4000psi + can be stored, and in a crash the energy does not blow
up like a metal tank. It vibrates out like a balloon, in a slit that they make as a failure point. So ive heard.
now nothing against the french in general.... but this air car thing
has some hidden under bellies. in france theres alot of scams going on to get investor money from phony patents and inventions... of course this goes
on every where i know...
supposedly, as i looked deeper into this car it doesnt work well... for XYZ reasons....
in the end i believe adding compressed air to a bonafide fuel source with a turbocharger/compressor as well, can kick the but out of a regular fuel
burning engine we have today....
this becomes a pulse detonation into a power turbine talk... this is the only viable option i have come to.
doh!, nope never been to Telsa,OK or tulsa even....
[Edited on 25-2-2007 by roamingnome]
12AX7 - 25-2-2007 at 13:04
Telsa? You going to Oklahoma or something???
You surely didn't mean Tesla.
DrP - 26-2-2007 at 01:06
Not so ecconomical or green (more red! 
) - but I want one of these! -
http://www.moller.com
(thought that this is what you were on about when I saw the thread title).