On Oct 28, 2008, at 12:03 PM, Stephen A. Lawrence wrote:
Edmund Storms wrote:
I suppose a top speed of 35 mph on flat roads with a small car makes
technological sense and perhaps practical sense in India.
However, who
in the US would want such a toy?
First of all, if we can judge by the success of Zenn and a couple
other
companies selling gussied-up golf carts, the answer to your question
is
"Lots of people".
I suggest people who need only vert local off road transportation with
continue to buy the cheeper gussied golf cart. Anyone who wants to
drive with the big boys will want something that can hold it's own in
that dog eat dog world.
Second of all, the article didn't say it was limited to 35 MPH -- it
said it was limited to 35 MPH with a 60 mile range on *air* *alone*.
But it has an onboard ICE to give it a boost when needed.
The faster it goes the more power the system must have regardless of
the amount of stored energy. A normal car needs at least 100 hp to
meet the needs of speed and hills in the US. This means it needs a
big enough engine to do the job once the initial energy is used up.
Now we are looking at a "normal" car that carries a small extra tank
of energy that does not come from burning gasoline, just like a hybrid
that uses batteries instead of an air tank. As you say, it is another
way to build a hybrid. However, this one has two engines, one running
from compressed air and another running using gasoline to pump more
air into the first engine. Is compressing air more efficient than
putting electric energy in a battery? I think not.
Ed
Quote:
The air car can tool along at a top speed of 35 mph for some 60 miles
or so on a tank of compressed air, a sufficient distance for 80% of
consumers to commute to work and back and complete daily chores.
On highways, the CAV can cruise at interstate speeds for nearly 800
miles with a small motor that compresses outside air to keep the tank
filled. The motor isn't finicky about fuel. It will burn gasoline or
diesel as well as biodiesel, ethanol or vegetable oil.
"At interstate speeds", the man says. Seems unlikely, given the
description, but that does seem to be the claim.
All in all it's another approach to building a hybrid, and maybe not
such a bad one.
