talk.environment

On Feb 11, 10:59 am, HarryNadds wrote:
> On Feb 9, 11:06 am, EconomicDemocracy Coop
> wrote:
>
>
>
> > The air car is poised for mass production
>
> > If someone tried to sell you a zero-emissions car that costs around
> > $10,000, you might think he was full of hot air. Turns out it's the
> > car that's full of it: The vehicle runs on and emits nothing but air.
> > Now, after more than fifteen years of languishing in automotive
> > obscurity, it's heading for mass production.
>
> > The Air Car is the brainchild of Guy Negre, a French inventor and
> > former Formula One engineer. In February, Negre's company, Motor
> > Development International (MDI), announced a deal to manufacture the
> > technology with Tata Motors, India's largest commercial automaker and
> > a major player worldwide. "It's an innovative technology, it's an
> > environment-friendly technology, and a scalable technology," says Tata
> > spokesperson Debasis Ray. "It can be used in cars, in commercial
> > vehicles, and in power generation."
>
> > Though Negre first unveiled the technology in the early 1990s,
> > interest has only recently grown. In addition to the Tata deal, which
> > could put thousands of the cars on the road in India by the end of the
> > decade, Negre has signed deals to bring the design to twelve other
> > countries, including South Africa, Israel, and Germany. But experts
> > say the car may never make it to US streets.
>
> > The Air Car works similarly to electric cars, but rather than storing
> > electrical energy in a huge, heavy battery, the vehicle converts
> > energy into air pressure and stores it in a tank. According to MDI's
> > Miguel Celades, Negre's engine uses compressed air stored at a
> > pressure of 300 bars to pump the pistons, providing a range of around
> > 60 miles per tank at highway speeds. An onboard air compressor can be
> > plugged into a regular outlet at home to recharge the tank in about
> > four hours, or an industrial compressor capable of 3,500 psi (likes
> > those found in scuba shops) can fill it up in a few minutes for around
> > two dollars. Celades says optional gasoline or biofuel hybrid models
> > will heat the pressurized air, increasing the volume available for the
> > pistons and allowing the car to drive for nearly 500 miles between air
> > refills and about 160 miles per gallon of fuel burned.
>
> > Early media reports speculated that Tata could have an Air Car on the
> > market by the end of 2008, but Ray says it's likely to be a couple of
> > years before the technology is available. Until the Indian models hit
> > the streets, the best way to see an Air Car in action is to cross the
> > pond and check out Negre's prototypes in France--a trip entrepreneur
> > J.P. Maeder says is worthwhile. "It's not a fantasy," he says of the
> > car. "It can make a real impact in how personal transportation will
> > develop from here."
>
> > In 2003, Maeder formed ZevCat, a Califonia company that aims to bring
> > the Air Car to America. So far, however, he says his plans have
> > stalled for financial reasons: Without enough money to build and crash
> > test prototypes, he can't demonstrate the technology for investors who
> > might be willing to fund more prototypes.
>
> > The car might garner more attention in the US if it makes it to market
> > in India or elsewhere before other burgeoning technologies like plug-
> > in hybrids or fuel-cell electric cars. If that were to happen,
> > compressed air could become the "next big thing" for green-minded
> > drivers, says Larry Rinek, an auto analyst with the international
> > market-research firm Frost and Sullivan. But Rinek questions whether
> > the car will have mass appeal. Another unknown is whether the vehicle
> > could pass crash tests.
>
> > "This is an R and D novelty; it's a curiosity that is nowhere near
> > ready for primetime," says Rinek. "It's unknown and untrusted,
> > particularly here in North America" where, he says, adoption of new
> > technology moves "very slowly." [http://www.insnet.org/
> > ins_headlines.rxml?id=5991]
>
> > Compressed air car nears reality
>
> > Pierre Thebault, Reuters
>
> > ...Negre says he aims to set up mini factories in regions where the
> > car is used.
>
> > "No transport, no parts suppliers. Everything will be made at the
> > place of sale in production units that can make one car per half
> > hour," Negre says. "That is more profitable, more ecological than the
> > big factories of the large carmakers."
>
> > Negre is not the only inventor working on compressed air engines.
> > Uruguay's Armando Regusci, Australia's Angelo di Pietro and South
> > Korea's Chul-Seung Cho have also produced designs.
>
> > But Negre has the backing of Tata, whose global ambitions took a major
> > step forward when it was recently named preferred buyer of the Jaguar
> > and Land Rover brands from Ford.
> > [http://www.nationalpost.com/life/driving/story.html?id=261331]
>
> > For more about MDI, discussion groups and fan site of MDI supporters,
> > see:
>
> >http://cyber-media.com/aircar/
>
> > which has links to many MDI affiliates (two in the US,
> > several in Europe)
>
> > = = = =
> > STILL FEELING LIKE THE MAINSTREAM U.S. CORPORATE MEDIA
> > IS GIVING A FULL HONEST PICTURE OF WHAT'S GOING ON?
> > = = = =
>
> > = = = =
> > Sorry, we cannot read/reply to most usenet posts but welcome email
> > FOR MORE INFORMATION:http://EconomicDemocracy.org/wtc/(peace)http://economicdemocracy.org/...)
> > Andhttp://EconomicDemocracy.org/(general)
>
> > ** New email: econdemocracy[at]gmail[dot]com
>
> Can I pull my 3,000 lb. horse trailer with it? Can I load the wife and
> kids in it and drive the 600 miles from here to El Paso to visit
> granny? Can I pull my bass boat with it? Can I pull my travel trailer
> with it?

Its a car dude, not a truck. Maybe you need another jackass to help
you pull.