Date:         Sun, 9 Nov 2008 16:46:11 -0700
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <goose1047@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <goose1047@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Driving on Air
Comments: To: Allan Streib <streib@cs.indiana.edu>
In-Reply-To:  <m1hc6gyglh.fsf@cs.indiana.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

>> The concept of using compressed gas (air or similar) as an energy
>> source to drive an gas engine may have some validity.
>
> It certainly might, but compressed air is not an energy "source" it is
> an energy storage mechanism -- another form of battery, really.
>
> Something has to compress the air, and that's where the energy really
> comes from.  Most likely this would be utility power if this idea were
> to be implemented on any large scale.


That's right... it takes power to run the compressor which "recharges"
the car. Just as it takes power to recharge an electric plug-in car.
The higher the desired pressure, the more power used.

There ain't no free lunch.

Once fusion is on-line this will cease to be a problem. But that
solution is not in sight.

Another thing they don't mention... what do they do for an electrical
system? Battery for sure... but recharging it? Does it run an
alternator from a driveshaft? Does it have "regenerative" braking
(stupid term... should be generative)? That would help, but only a
little bit.

Another disadvantage is this... as the pressure drops the car will
lose steam gradually as soon as it is used, so to speak. Unlike an
electric, which will run flat-out until the battery is almost
exhausted.

--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
Fossil preparator
Mollusc, Toyota & VW van nut
Temporarily in Calgary, AB, Canada
<goose1047@gmail.com>