I looked up the company, and emailed them that very same question. They're now developing an engine that's twice as powerful, while maintaining it's same size. They're not producing for market, yet, though.
I'm just glad to see that the major USA companies haven't made this guy disappear, if-you-know-what-I-mean-and-I-think-you-do!
It still takes energy to compress the air. So how is oil dead?
There is a net loss in every domain conversion (this has 3), so this "Clean Air" engine is most likely adding more CO to the air than a High efficiency gasoline, or Propane powered vehicle.
Interesting that you automatically concluded that we must burn fossil fuels to compress this air. The glaring lack lack of insight doesn't even warrant further comment. However, just to get you started on a new line of thinking, check out http://www.stirlingenergy.com/solar_overview.htm
The take home message is that you can use a parabolic dish to capture the energy of 500 suns, focus it on stirling engine and convert that thermal energy to kinetic energy to run an air compressor
rhy.....are you as arrogant as your reply sounds ("glaring lack of insight")????....hey, podman was just asking a question---no need to demean the questioner
rhyolite - I was simply stating is: How is this device is the answer, that will doom the internal combustion engine? Compressed air is just another storage medium like gasoline, hydrogen, ATP, etc. How does a new storage medium for energy cause the demise of OIL?
I don't see why compressed air energy storage is only compressed using Solar Energy? Explain.
Also, I am not shortsighted, or even a little bit ignorant as to what is being presented here. I am a engineer and understand perfectly.
Perhaps before you get all insulting about my comment you should do some research into comparative efficiencies, stored energy density, and thermodynamics.
well if another method of combustion can replace significant oil-derived consumer fuel sources, oil may be as dead as it can be, until its thoroughly depleted or obsolete; i think were just trying to find a source to replace oil, plentiful, with little risk- pick your exploit (dont forget governments and economics ;)
i propose, with complete lack of scientific understanding, devices in orbit to capture and transform solar wind energy and wirelessly transmit it to earth, its probably possible!
It says you can get 2 hours of driving... but is that 2 hours of equal power at top pressure, or 2 hours of any motion at all? After all, unlike gasoline where the last drop is as powerful as the first, compressed air starts losing its ability to power something from the get-go, as the pressure in the tank starts going down.
It probably works like a nitrous system and has regulated solenoids to keep pressure equal instead of relying on bottle pressure. I am an avid American muscle car owner and enjoy the smell of 112 low lead fuel coming out of my mustang's tailpipe's but I think this guy is on to something very positive. I think the major problems we are having w/emissions is when there are a great # of engines whether propane, diesel, or gas running in a concentrated area. Large city, inside a warehouse, etc. This invention would do a great deal for mass transit areas.
I do still laugh at the guy next to me at the stoplight that has the hybrid car that cost him $50,000 and he gets 55 mpg b/c I drive a car that gets 26 mpg and still does 0-60 in 5 seconds flat while burning the tires. Its all in the control of that right pedal.
The guy has developed a nice engine, but podman has a valid point about the big picture. Compressors are just another piston engine in reverse. All the air has to be compressed. Every energy form change results in compounding inefficiency. In the big picture , compressed air , hydrogen, batteries etc, are just storing energy , not making it. Oil, solar electric, wind , geothermal are adding energy into the equation. In my opinion the most efficient way to get energy to the wheels in your car is electric. No mechanical engine (especially with the compressor in the middle of the process) is as efficient as an electric motor. Electric cars will be the most reasonable future. Solar and wind make electricity immediately.
The storage media is still under debate but it will be electrical storage of some form (batteries, capacitors. For you ethanol fans, it makes a nice beverage , but its a break-even process. It takes as much energy to produce the ethanol and burn it in your engine as you get energy out at the wheels. Internal combustion (of ethanol too) is too inefficient.
Yes, electrical cars are the best choice. Too bad they already existed and were already killed ten years ago. If you haven't seen the documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car?" yet, DO. Or at least wiki EV1, the GM model which was pretty much perfect any way you look at it but was destroyed anyway.
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