Compressed air cars
There are 2 very promising inventions that use compressed air as the energy source. The first, from France, drives a piston engine (which does not require any ignition of a carbon-base fuel).
The second, which seems more promising, is from Australia and it drives a light (13kg) and simple rotary engine. More info from Australia’s ABC: Rotary Piston Engine.
The compressed air is held in tanks made of carbon fibre. Why? If the tanks are damaged in an accident, a metal-based tank would explode and cause a lot of damage. Carbon fibre will split and cause little damage. besides, it is light and very strong.
This is a small vehicle powered by the Di Pietro rotary engine.
The current high price of oil means these alternative energy source proposals can get a serious hearing - and the oil companies have less impact on the US & other high polluting governments.
The inventor, Di Pietro and his engine.
There is more info on similar engines at Quasiturbine.com.
Bring on the alternatives to gas guzzling cars!
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Leigh Zappelli said,
February 14, 2007 at 10:34 pm
I was wondering if Di Pietro’s buggy is still in use and how it is going, and if there are any problems with it. I am doing a project at school on compressed air Vs petrol.
zac said,
February 14, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Hi Leigh
From that ABC site mentioned in the post:
Good luck with your assignment - great topic!
kishor said,
December 30, 2008 at 12:23 pm
I have gone through the article, its amazing but it would be still better if you have provided the design of the engine like pressure of the air for any particular application dimensions of the vanes, shaft and eccentric
zac said,
December 30, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Hi Kishor
Follow the link given in the comment to Leigh. Alternatively, you could email the inventor - that will be the best source!