106 MPG Compressed Air Car Coming Soon?
Fred Flintstone used his feet to get his car moving forward, but what will you be using in the near future? What if we told you the answer to that question was "air?"
Yes, friends, air. Compressed air, to be exact.
The compressed air car is the inspired idea from a European company called MDI, founded in 1991 by a French inventor. The car would use compressed air in a way similar to how a steam engine drives pistons to create motion.
With the goal of 106 miles per gallon of fuel (so you still need a little gas) and an 800 mile range, the car could be the super solution to the challenge of ever-increasing gas prices.
New York-based Zero Pollution Motors is the first U.S. company to license MDI's technology, with hopes to have a six-seater model for sale in 2010 – for less than $18,000.
There are skeptics, of course. The amount of air pressure required -- 4,500 pounds per square inch – is something typically seen only in industrial applications. But the company claims to be able to surmount this challenge. They also say that while their car will be small, it will still be safe to drive on American roads, surrounded by SUVs and 18-wheelers.
Between zero and 35 miles per hour, the car would use only compressed air to move forward. Above that speed, a little extra juice is necessary, and that's where the fuel would come in to play.
Next year, the car will compete for the Automotive X Prize, with a multimillion-dollar award going to the car that "can win a stage race for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 mpg equivalent fuel economy."
We'll keep you posted. [Source: CNN.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Grant06 said 3:27PM on 8-08-2008
You wrote: "surrounded by SUVs and other 18-wheelers." My SUV is a "four wheeler" as I suspect the vast majority of SUV's are.
That little editorial goof aside, I've got a feeling that reliability would be an issue utilizing such extreme air pressures.
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Will Safer said 3:39PM on 8-08-2008
Thanks, Grant06. Good catch.
dwr50 said 5:00PM on 8-09-2008
I doubt the 18K price, but if they can pull it off they will sell all they can produce.
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Keith said 1:23PM on 10-05-2008
i think the future of cars with 100+ mpg (in any motor) is a huge jump. im very excited about the prospects but we will not see it in America within the next 30 years. :(
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SASHA said 8:23PM on 10-14-2008
The air car is very interesting and my hat is off to this European company. But I am dissapointed that Europe seems to be leading the way in the green revolution that must occur. If the American economy hopes to remain the most powerful in the world then we need to lead the way. Instead, we will end up buying their technology and the jobs will remain in Europe. How depressing! While Detroit was selling silly hummers to oil addicted Americans, Europe was moving into the future. That is exactly why government must play an active role in incentives to American companies. No matter what conservatives say, government has a role to play. We made it to the moon but now no longer have the will to lead a green revolution. How sad, since I know we can do it if shove the short term thinking and big oil aside.
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