Air Power

Peugeot plans on marketing a car in 2016 that will/can run on compressed air about 45% of the time enabling it to achieve extremely good fuel efficiency. It uses a standard 3 cylinder 4-stroke gasoline engine as its main powerplant but also employs a hydraulic pump that pumps hydraulic fluid against air stored in tanks underneath the vehicle anytime the brakes are applied or anytime the vehicle is simply slowed down by backing off on the accelerator. This hydraulic fluid with air pressure accumulated behind it is then employed to drive a hydraulic motor in the drive train to either completely power the vehicle or be used in a combined mode with the little gasser. At speeds below 43mph, with a full charge of air, it can run for about 50 minutes on air over hydraulics alone. At least it won't have battery problems but there will probably be a few glitches??? About 100 engineers have been working in secret on this for several years and they have 4 prototypes out running around. Mileage claims run from 80mpg to 143mpg. I doubt that it would do me very much good because I don't even slow down one time going across the entire State of Ohio. (;>))

The laws of unintended consiquenses. What are we gonna do with those new battery factories? This could be like BETA vs VHS.

There have been some compressed air cars running in europe for 15 years now. Most recent one I have seen was a dirtbike with a compressed air (scuba?) tank. Seemed like a fun toy.

The trouble with compressed air is so much energy is wasted as heat, That is why it takes at least a 5 hp compressor to run a 1 hp air motor!

Friction in hydraulic systems along with compression generates significant heat in designs such as that employed in UPS trucks where dual accumulators and coolers are utilized to allow the vehicle (truck) to operate at high duty cycles. On the much smaller scale of the compact car, where hydraulic lines are thinner and pumps smaller, passive radiation may suffice. We'll see.

Railroad shops used compressed air to move steam engines rather than fire them up to move them around the shop. And I have seen pictures of mining engines that ran on compressed air underground.

I remember some of the old Macks used to have air starters. Guy started his truck with one of those in a rest area once, I damn near crapped myself... what a racket, sounded like a 12" square drive air wrench, if there was such a thing...

You could be correct on that there are some very good cars being tested that run on compressed air. One can get over 100 MPG and one uses an alternator to run a small compressor and is said to be able to cross the US ON ONE CHARGE OF AIR. don't put these down you may be running one someday.
Walt

Without getting political or blaming either party,this is a prime example of why the government should stay the h3ll out of the private sector when it comes to promoting anything.
Technology changes,end of story. Aren't you glad you didn't invest in a bunch of those internet kiosks where for a few dollars you could log in in a public place on a common computer to get your email?

Oliver had those on some diesel tractors exported to tropical climates for use in sugar cane. They had no electrical wiring what so ever. Had a lever on a hand pump to pump up the air tank.

Tata Corp in India is selling a small car that uses comp. air .

Hydraulics over an accumulator are a very good form of power distribution...as Electric can be...
Hydraulics has less heat losses I think and would work very well, to eliminate the need for the usual Brakes..as it would re-replenish the pressure as you stop..
In City traffic, only a very small engine would be required and then, only intermittently..

Lithium Ion batteries are very good at absorbing current quickly and are looking good..but, the "BRAKING" is a problem when it comes to energy recovery...
I have always leaned toward another "Power Recovery" system that is over-looked:
Instead of a Turbo to make an engine produce more power and more fuel, I would have leaned toward the Exhaust "Blow-Down" system, to recover exhaust energy, to help turn the crankshaft..as was used on the TWA Super Connis..
They increased the Take-Of HP for each engine by 1,000HP with this+water injection...
Instead of using more fuel, it would Save fuel...

Ron..

Railroads used a steam engine for switching in the yards, NO BOILER OR FIREBOX. Was a huge tank, and they had a stationary boiler to charge the tank. And it had a HUGE tank. Would think an air car with any serious drive time would have to have a large reservoir too. Somewhere around here I have a series of pictures of one of those engines. Don't expect me to post any soon, however.