Compressed air powered cars??!

[jezzaaa]

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/vehi...

Hmmmm...apparently Tata have developed one...but it sounds unlikely that this would be a viable alternative but never be mentioned by any of the other manufacturers!

I think this is a troll mail...any takers?
J.

[The Wookie]

No it's a real piece of technology, instead of using the increase in pressure caused by burning fuel to drive the piston, it's just pre compressed air

I believe the original idea was that you could 'recharge' in remote locations using a bog standard air compressor that isn't fussy about what fuel you put in it

[vx220]

aren't there compressed air taxis in mexico? or did i dream this!?

and model aeroplanes had co2 powered engines before i was born, similar principle?

[PabloTeK]

They used to (don't know if they still do) have trains that ran off compressed air, it's OK so long as you don't have to go far

[Petrolhead_Rich]

Just runs a compressor backwards, using the pressure already built up to push the piston down, turning the shaft.

It would be a BIG, HEAVY, "fuel" (Air) tank though, which would be expensive to fill, good scope for regenerative braking though, use the weight/momentum of the car to re-compress the air tank.

[ewenm]

Wouldn't the power available also decrease over time as the pressure in the tank drops? Not the most useful...