Worlds oil problems solved by the french

[Czar]

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_94845.html?nav_src=newsIndexHeadline

Designers unveil air-powered car

Car designers in France say they have produced a vehicle that runs on air and costs just 10p for 60 miles.

The piston power engine of the e.Volution car is powered by the release of compressed air stored in tanks underneath the car. Drivers will be able to plug the vehicle into any electrical power source to fill it up.

The car is being unveiled at the Auto Africa Expo 2000 in Johannesburg. It will be built in France and is expected to be on sale later this year for around £6,700.

The car - which looks like a small minibus - is based on pioneering technology by former F1 engineer Guy Negre, the BBC reports.

A car that goes forward by farting, thats a great idea

 

[Theslowone]

I wonder how the car reacts in severe weather. The compression in gas is usually somewhat of a constant but when you get o2 it is really affected by extrem heat and cold. But since france, rarely sees these extremes i doubt even if it would matter it probably would not with them.

 

[Frenchie]

Yeah, we wont have to worry about an oil shortage.....no we will have to worry about an air shortage!?!??!?!

 

[StageLeft]

I bet this thing kick ass in the 1/4 !! Really though, this is sweet, reading article now.

GRR link doesn't work fix fix fix!!

 

[Viper GTS]

I hate to think what happens if the tank bursts.

Viper GTS

 

[StageLeft]

Link working now!

 

[Batti]

Not as much as a gas tank rupture!

 

[nd]

<< Yeah, we wont have to worry about an oil shortage.....no we will have to worry about an air shortage!?!??!?! >>


Err... it outputs the same air it uses.. we're not losing any air

It will require energy to compress all this air, of course. But it's generally a good thing to move the energy consumption policy into one central place rather than millions of automobiles (where they can easily work to improve efficiency, and best of all we won't need oil).

The obvious problem is lack of horsepower. These things can get up to 80mph, which is definitely sufficient, but acceleration will probably frustrate people a lot.

 

[thebestMAX]

The French have plenty of &quot;hot&quot; air.

Name one good French car. (Define good)

 

[CinderElmo]

I think 10p for 60 miles is too much. I wouldn't pay that many p's for air. How much p's worth can one tank hold?

Is this story for real? I would think that if this were true it would be headline news on every network across the planet...would like to learn more.

 

[nd]

Cinder,

This is real, it will be demonstrated at some show in South Africa shortly. This story has been everywhere today. I saw it this morning on Drudge, then saw it just about everywhere (including Slashdot).

 

[Demon-Xanth]

They have the same problem as electric cars. When you're on the side of the road because you run out of fuel, what do you do?

 

[nd]

Demon,

What do you do when you run out of gas?

 

[piku]

I thought maybe we would use the french for fuel...

 

[Demon-Xanth]

You walk to a gas station, get a gas can, fill it up, and walk back. Are you gonna get a 10 mile long extention cord to run the compressor?

 

[Locutus of Board]

The downsides of an air powered car:

1) The constant farting sound of air blowing out the back end
2) Can't steer, car just flys around the room
3) High internal pressure means that exiting car too rapidly causes &quot;explosive decompression&quot;
4) After car has run for several hours, outer surface gets all wrinkly

 

[nd]

Demon,

If this is the worst argument against the car, I think it would be very successful. But I don't think this is a big issue. There are definitely solutions

 

[Frenchie]

nd:

Kidding!


thebestMAX:

There are a coupe of nice Peugeot's out there.

 

[nd]

Locutus,

Way to rip off a +5 rated Slashdot post (unless you got it from somewhere else, in which case he probably stole it too)

See http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=00/10/25/1148249&amp;cid=4

Edit: Btw, I'm not saying you're &quot;busted&quot; or claimed to say it.. so no hard feelings.

 

[qacwac]

cool. The acceleration can't be any worse than my recently deceased car. Atleast I hope not.

 

[ApacheXMD]

run out of air? no problem!
just bust out the bicycle pump and away you go


-patchy

edit: oh and what the heck is a p? 10p for 60 miles? eh?

 

[lupin]

Wow.

Then you can install an air pump or something that'll continuously fill the tank while you're driving.

Never need a refill...

That would be cool.

Otherwise, I still think electric power has more potential.

 

[DABANSHEE]

Ah but the air pump will need 'filling up' eventually.

Here's a better link.

 

[StageLeft]

Ugly thing but hopefully a more sexier one will come out eventually...still this is pretty cool.

 

[CinderElmo]

This is big, really big!