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Let's get real. The compressed air is the energy storage method. It has to be compressed and that is where energy is lost to thermal effects. Outside of some rarely used technology to compress air with falling water air is compressed mechanically generally using electricity as the energy source. I suppose (sometimes you have to) the air is compressed at the local recharge stations.
When the compressed air is expanded in a motor it becomes much colder. IIRC the cool exhaust air is ducted to the cabin of these cars as a built in air conditions, in downtown Delhi in the summer this can be an important side effect.
In very limited situations these vehicles may be useful. One place in the US would be shuffling special parts and people around large auto and aircraft factories. They could also be used in underground mining where compressed air is already available as part of normal operations.
The Ford Focus is a nice car. But the Electric model STARTS at just under $40,000. By the time you get the options you'd want/need, it's at least a $45,000 car. Of all the facts that stood out to me, the main one is that it has a between-charges range of just 76 miles. On a practical level, that's probably more like 50 miles.
Basically, the only people who will be buying these cars are wealthy people who can afford to spend over $40,000 on a second car.
We're also being sold a pack of lies, being led to believe that there is no cost to the energy used by electric cars. But I can guarantee you that if you plugged this car in to charge every night, as it sits in your garage, your electric bill is going to go up $100 - $200 per month. Maybe more.
EVERY vehicle requires ENERGY to move. That energy has to come from somewhere. And, unless the source of energy is your legs, you have to PAY for that energy.
The "most green" forms of transportation remain walking, riding a bike and/or living close enough to everything that you don't need a car.
Don't think for a moment that the compressed air tank is going to be filled in a couple of minutes. My guess is it will take quite some time to get a complete fill due to the heat of compression going into the tank.
Yes... Unless they run some sort of intercooler to wick the heat.... The blower motors we used to build would get so hot you couldn't touch them, due to the air compression.... Did some experiments with intercoolers that would force liquid CO2 through piping under the blowers... was a plumbing nightmare.
I wonder if you would get icicles hanging off the 'tailpipe' when you drove around
One thing I find misleading is the title of this thread "Talk about a totally environmental friendly vehicle", yet I see no mention as to where the energy is coming from to compress the air. Seems like another solution developed on the 'generate the power somewhere else, and then ship it to me' theory.
One thing I find misleading is the title of this thread "Talk about a totally environmental friendly vehicle", yet I see no mention as to where the energy is coming from to compress the air. Seems like another solution developed on the 'generate the power somewhere else, and then ship it to me' theory.
This is what I find ludicrous about some of the attitudes here....
When discussing electric cars I never see anyone moan about "where is the energy coming from" to build and ship the car to the dealership...
Or people asking "where is the energy coming from" to make the clothes I wear.
Or people asking "where is the energy coming from" to cook my food.
Or "how much energy am I using" to run my computer, connect, send and receive files and communicate over the Internet.
This frame of mind is why the Green movement is going nowhere fast....
I spent some time on the net looking for a small car that I could run around town with, doing errands. There are things that look like reworked small golf carts which are not legal on US streets for various reasons, one being that they could not get up to a proper speed. I suspect that this vehicle will meet a similar response.
I have a problem with most of these aerodynamic vehicles not having enough ground clearance. We, in my area, sometimes get some major potholes.
How could such a vehicle tool around the rutted dirt roads in India? They must be for use only in cities.
I spent some time on the net looking for a small car that I could run around town with, doing errands. There are things that look like reworked small golf carts which are not legal on US streets for various reasons, one being that they could not get up to a proper speed. I suspect that this vehicle will meet a similar response.
I have a problem with most of these aerodynamic vehicles not having enough ground clearance. We, in my area, sometimes get some major potholes.
How could such a vehicle tool around the rutted dirt roads in India? They must be for use only in cities.
Do you really, literally take for granted everything you read on the Internet without ever looking into it?
Your comments are ludicrous and totally wrong concerning this vehicle....
Like it or not.......The most "totally environmental friendly vehicle" is.......
The Bicycle.
Zero pollution, zero energy use. (Not debatable unless someone wants to pick nits.)
Winner everytime in the "totally environmental friendly vehicle" race.
That was my first thought when I read the thread title. But if you wereto nitpick, I guess the most environmentally responsible way to get somewhere would be to walk (and there's the still the energy and resources needed to produce your shoes, assuming you're not barefoot!)
Do you really, literally take for granted everything you read on the Internet without ever looking into it?
Your comments are ludicrous and totally wrong concerning this vehicle....
Please elaborate on your most interesting comments.
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