Green | November 03, 2008 | 68 comments

Air cars: A new wind for America's roads?

source: http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/106040/Air-Cars:-A-New-Wind-for-America's-Roads

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J_Jammer
A new carmaker has a plan for cheap, environmentally friendly cars to be built all over the country

An air-powered car? It may be available sooner than you think at a price tag that will hardly be a budget buster. The vehicle may not run like a speed racer on back road highways, but developer Zero Pollution Motors is betting consumers will be willing to fork over $20,000 for a vehicle that can motor around all day on nothing but air and a splash of salad oil, alcohol or possibly a pint of gasoline.

The expertise needed to build a compressed air car, or CAV, is not rocket science, either. Years-old, off-the-shelf technology uses compressed air to drive old-fashioned car engine pistons instead of combusting gas or diesel fuel to create a burst of air to do the same thing. Indian carmaker Tata has no qualms about the technology. It has already bought the rights to make the car for the huge Indian market.

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.

This car leaves the highest-mpg vehicles you can buy right now in the dust. Even if it used only regular gasoline, the air car would average 106 mpg, more than double today's fuel sipping champ, the Toyota Prius. The air tank also can be refilled when it's not in use by being plugged into a wall socket and recharged with electricity as the motor compresses air.

Automakers aren't quite ready yet to gear up huge assembly line operations churning out air cars or set up glitzy dealer showrooms where you can ooh and aah over the color or style. But the vehicles will be built in factories that will make up to 8,000 vehicles a year, likely starting in 2011, and be sold directly to consumers.

There will be plants in nearly every state, based on the number of drivers in the state. California will have as many as 17 air car manufacturing plants, and there'll be around 12 in Florida, eight in New York, four in Georgia, while two in Connecticut will serve that state and Rhode Island.

The technology goes back decades, but is coming together courtesy of two converging forces. First, new laws are likely to be enacted in a few years that will limit carbon dioxide emissions and force automakers to develop ultra-high mileage cars and those that emit minuscule amounts of or no gases linked with global warming. Plug-in electric hybrids will slash these emissions, but they'll be pricey at around $40,000 each and require some changes in infrastructure -- such as widespread recharge stations -- to be practical. Fuel cells that burn hydrogen to produce only water vapor still face daunting technical challenges.

Second, the relatively high cost of gas has expedited the air car's development. Yes, pump prices have plunged since July from record levels, but remain way higher than just a few years ago and continue to take a bite out of disposable income. Refiners will face carbon emission restraints, too, and steeply higher costs will be passed along at the pump.

Tata doesn't plan to produce the cars in the U.S. Instead, it plans to charge $15 million for the rights to the technology, a fully built turnkey auto assembly plant, tools, machinery, training and rights to use trademarks.

The CAV has a big hurdle: proving it can pass federal crash tests. Shiva Vencat, president and CEO of Zero Pollution Motors, says he's not worried. "The requirements can be modeled [on a computer] before anything is built and adjusted to ensure that the cars will pass" the crash tests. Vencat also is a vice president of MDI Inc., a French company that developed the air car.
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68 comments // Air cars: A new wind for America's roads?

  • buck19
    • 0
      buck19  

    • The French automakers have a better looking vehicle that's more along the lines of the Scion Xb. They claim you can drive form L.A. to NYC on $3. Better than this detuned model. And it's suppose to sell for under $13,000

    • 4 years ago
  • EcoConnoisseur
    • 0
      EcoConnoisseur  

    • He (Obama) needs to display “wisdom” and focus on the big 3. One may have to go down and the rise of a green player to replace the fallen may need to be his biggest move! If I was an advisor to President Obama, I would encourage him to not bailout anyone-else (excluding the middle class) and focus on transitioning from the traditional economic giants to investing in the new green giants! One of my own favorite quotes is:

      “I happen to deeply agree with the wisdom of Tom Friedman (that we cannot consume of way out of this mess and “Have you ever been to a revolution where nobody gets hurt?”). The fact is that the current economic conditions will cause a lot of companies to close their doors (websites too), and they will die off altogether due to lack of understanding the competitive (innovative) landscape. Just look at Detroit and the Big 3 for example! Those that will fight to stay alive will need to figure out — What’s Next?

      I believe that the New Green Economy will include the Rise of Green Real Estate Markets paired with the continued success of Cleantech, Clean Energy Markets, and large scale shifts toward Clean Transportation, and the Greening of the IT Industries (plus a fourth quarter of record investment!!), which will lead to a boom in “American Made” Green Collar Jobs and the creation of new wealth. The trick is: “who will get it right??” Execution makes all the difference for most of these opportunities and green investors need to pay more attention to the items that management claim they can achieve.” - Yeves Perez, Founder of EcoInvestmentClub.com - Nov 2008

      See more on talk on Fast Company:
      http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/glenn-croston/starting-and-growing-green-busines...

      Join the Conversation on "What's Next for the Green Economy?"
      http://forums.treehugger.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6979&start=0&st=0&a...

      Join us at http://www.ecoinvestmentclub.com

    • 4 years ago
  • arcticspirit
  • GreenAttyPDX
    • 0
      GreenAttyPDX  

    • This technology has been around for over 10 years and still has not been implemented. Hopefully, with the new winds of change sweeping the nation, people will demand these new products.

      It is a shame that these innovations haven not been embraced by Detroit or US Policymakers; this US is at least a decade behind Europe with regard to fostering sustainable transporation and energy solutions. Call me a cynic, but the people that control the commadning heights of the US economy have no desire to see such a product reach a car lot near you. It can only happen if the people demand change and accountability from their leaders.

    • 4 years ago
  • dbmurti
    • 0
      dbmurti  

    • Too dangerous! Laws of motion and thermodynamics mean that that light baby pod will get crushed by any big mamma SUV. At least a bike can maneuver off the road....

    • 4 years ago
  • AutifK
    • 0
      AutifK  

    • I'm interested in seeing this happen. I was first aware of it when the link I included with this post was submitted, but I think the idea has been circulating for a while. In any case, still sounds interesting.

    • 4 years ago
  • 5thElement
  • 5thElement
    • 0
      5thElement  

    • Umm.....It doesn't exactly look like something I would feel safe driving in, especially with my family. Did anyone see the price?

    • 4 years ago
  • SQSIMS
    • 0
      SQSIMS  

    • just the fact that the know how to make these cars have been around for 10's of years goes to show that some one doesnt want us to have it
      and if they can make it in 2 yrs why not start now?

    • 4 years ago
  • Wesnology61
  • goldfishbythesea
  • jennfilm
  • advertisinggal
  • Juas
    • 0
      Juas  

    • Awesome.
      I like to think they will make them bigger so I can go surfing without being afraid of getting kicked out of the curb by an 18-wheeler.

    • 4 years ago
  • LarzNero
    • 0
      LarzNero  

    • i want one. my daily commute is too long and slow and hilly for a bike (plus, how would i shower after the ride?) but a scooter like this would be perfect

    • 4 years ago
  • DrownedFlyingWhales
  • nazbags
  • metalcookiesxy70
  • menmykoko
  • covelogibbs
    • 0
      covelogibbs  
    • menmykoko:

      That and the fact that:

      If we make our cars more fuel efficient, buy 1 MPG, we can generate more oil than is in two Arctic National Wildlife Refuges. If we raise fuel economy by 8 MPG, we can produce more oil than we're now importing from the Persion Gulf.

    • 4 years ago
  • menmykoko
  • Egnatius212
  • deeblackangel
  • blackdaylight
    • 0
      blackdaylight  

    • what i don't understand is why cats haven't realized that these little cutesy cars look dumb & probably aren't safe...why isn't anyone working on a cadillac that's powered by an air compressor???

      gm & all of the rest of the u.s. automakers deserve to fail.

    • 4 years ago
  • hapykap
    • 0
      hapykap  

    • Ugly concept car.
      Air compression is an alternative.

      I am for anything that doesn't pollute the Ground, Water and Air we need to sustain a healthy life.

      Back in the mid 70's a guy in Phx,AZ built an air compression run vehicle out of his old Dodge station- wagon. He converted the gas compression engine to an air compression engine.
      A station wagon has lots of room.

      Viva entrepreneurs! Collaborate with others and create something that a person really wants that is stylish and versatile and of course is very affordable.

    • 4 years ago
  • oracleruby
    • 0
      oracleruby  

    • Awesome specs but Looks like it's not that fast. 35 mph? ... What about on highways. Details are very vague but I am intrigued. Leave me with a lot of questions like: How safe is this? The outside kind of looks like plastic. But I'm pretty sure that wouldn't be the case. How small is it and such? I have twin nieces so space is very valuable to me....

    • 4 years ago
  • oscar_cuevas
  • myndperception
    • 0
      myndperception  

    • just run it on vegetable oil, then when going long distances use the air compressor that is built into the car.

      no need to run electricity into it if you think about it... that seems like the cleanest way to use it.

      get this out asap! lol i want one.

    • 4 years ago
  • daledrops
  • Razmatazz
  • yaget1chance
    • 0
      yaget1chance  

    • I'm thinking of a windmill that runs a huge air compressor. This acts as a "re-fueling" station. Doesn't that take the carbon fuel out of it all together? This is a great idea. I think air bikes would be fairly easy to use as well. A bit cheaper maybe?? I mean $20,000 isn't bad but a lot of people buy a used car for $4,000 to $5,000. For the first few years of production, until second hand units were available, what would they do to commute? maybe an air scooter? This sounds too good for the gas companies to buy into...

    • 4 years ago
  • ArmyJuggalo
  • krush_productions
  • pjacobs51
  • adveritas
  • alinaantunez
  • revolutioninamerica
  • Bicycle
  • uroborus8
  • Mikeysfake1
  • joshuaheller
  • J_Jammer
  • TyMarshal
  • J_Jammer
  • kewal91
  • peter_doerrie
    • 0
      peter_doerrie  

    • Dont star partying yet. while this approach is definetly a good one, it only pushes the CO2 question up the ladder. How do you compress air? Normally with electric energy. And how do you produce electricity? If you are living in the states, most likely with nuclear energy (bad for CO2 and dangerous) or coal (really bad, though not so dangerous).

      So this car will make things not better in itself. We still have to change how we produce and use energy.

    • 4 years ago
  • bedeboop
  • mako2424
  • bedeboop
  • BFAM_RVS
  • bedeboop
    • 0
      bedeboop  

    • I'm, as they say, there! Hmmm...looking at it tho, I'm claustrophobic. :( Windows would always be open...even in the dead of winter if I were driving.

    • 4 years ago
  • marlaynek
    • 0
      marlaynek  

    • i am going to buy this, get some friends, dress up like clowns, and see how many of us can squish in it.....love it love it love.

    • 4 years ago
  • J_Jammer
  • marlaynek
  • Saturn120
  • J_Jammer
  • Cashmere
    • 0
      Cashmere  
    • Saturn120:

      You must be kidding me. No scientists actually beleive that. I understand it is often harder to accept the truth that maintain your beleifs, but the fact that you are on this website seeking knowledge would argue you can handle it.

      Even if this one article argues against it, scientific consensus is totally opposite. Don't be ignorant.

      And great point J_Jammer, even if it were fake this is a huge innovation that should not be ignored. Progress is good. Not to mention the jobs it will bring to the states.

    • 4 years ago
  • Gtarfr3ak
  • AmberT
    • 0
      AmberT  
    • Saturn120:

      Climate change BS huh? Are you employed by an automaker or oil company? How long have you been a top scientist? Do you realize we have more CO2 in our environment than we have ever had before in the history of the planet Earth? It's not just about warming it is about changing the chemical make up of our atmosphere. Maybe you should go back to school.

    • 4 years ago
  • bedeboop
    • 0
      bedeboop  
    • Saturn120:

      Just wondering how you figure that the earth having a population of 6,733,867,928 is having no affect????? Every thing we do that uses some of the resources of the earth has an impact on the earth. How can you be in so much denial???

    • 4 years ago
  • borymp
  • futurehempfarmer
  • katosan
    • 0
      katosan  
    • Saturn120:

      seriously...i'm in a college where they practically pull a knife on you for using the elevator over taking the stairs. I mean yea do what we can to help ya know, this car's a great invention but whether pollutions our fault is still largely unknown. = )

    • 4 years ago
  • CCashman
    • 0
      CCashman  

    • That is the cutest god-damn thing I have ever seen. Now the real question is how does one get inside of it. Through the windshield?

    • 4 years ago
  • Cashmere
  • J_Jammer
  • futuregen
  • J_Jammer
  • kewal91
  • cantucwearebrothers
  • margarita_coffee
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