Too bad its only in India. There is a company in Australia that is making small motors for industrial use. http://www.engineair.com.au/ These look more exciting, smaller engine, less to move. If they would adapt them to car use, it would be great.
It’s an awesome invention and all, but on a car that small, is anyone else worried about what happens when the fuel tank is punctured in a crash? The air would have to be under tremendous pressure to power a car for 300 km — seems like having a gas tank that’s guaranteed to blow up, Pinto style.
Of course, I’m not so hot with the science, so take that for what it’s worth.
Neat concept and kudos for innovation, but aside from the above mentioned question about the fuel tank being punctured I just can’t put a lot of faith in a vehicle that is GLUED together. Scary.
Screw hybrids with technology like this, it’s the ultimate city car. With the amount of fender benders that happen downtown, the vehicle being mostly glued should make repairs easier and less costly. Adhesive technology has made it a long way, but I am unsure on it’s capability for highway driving (even though no matter what car your driving your taking a risk anyways). If human kind was meant to drive we would have been born with wheels. I hope we advance this technology, but if you enjoy breathing in your smog… all the power to ya.
Neat concept and kudos for innovation, but aside from the above mentioned question about the fuel tank being punctured I just can’t put a lot of faith in a vehicle that is GLUED together. Scary.
Glue? Did we say glue? We meant “chemical solder”.
Seriously, though, there is some amazingly strong glue today. I’m less worried about how well the car holds together and more afraid of how it will end in a collision. That car just doesn’t look like it could take a solid hit from a Prius, much less an SUV, before crumpling like a plastic cup.
Given that India’s bumper-to-bumper traffic doesn’t give a lot of headroom for big accidents, this might not be a problem. In the States, it’s looking less safe.
That said, it could BECOME safe easily enough. And increasing the size of the engine or the air tank could power a bigger, heavier car. When a fill-up on the existing model only costs $2, I’m sure a good engineer could trade fuel economy for extra features and still come in with a vehicle that stays under $10.
It’s not the car I’d want to buy, I’ll admit. But it absolutely screams with potential for innovation. Where was this car 20 years ago?
the innovation is in the tanks. they splodey without a lethal blast of metal. they tear in strips with a lethal blast of air, perhaps? i’m stupid-in-love with air car.
Leave a Reply
"By MightyGodKing, we mean sexiest blog in western civilization." -- Jenn
July 20th, 2008 la 1:40 pm
Too bad its only in India. There is a company in Australia that is making small motors for industrial use. http://www.engineair.com.au/ These look more exciting, smaller engine, less to move. If they would adapt them to car use, it would be great.
July 20th, 2008 la 2:08 pm
Hee hee. “Dicks”. Hee hee. “Tata”.
(snort)
(snicker)
July 21st, 2008 la 12:18 am
It’s an awesome invention and all, but on a car that small, is anyone else worried about what happens when the fuel tank is punctured in a crash? The air would have to be under tremendous pressure to power a car for 300 km — seems like having a gas tank that’s guaranteed to blow up, Pinto style.
Of course, I’m not so hot with the science, so take that for what it’s worth.
July 21st, 2008 la 9:03 am
Neat concept and kudos for innovation, but aside from the above mentioned question about the fuel tank being punctured I just can’t put a lot of faith in a vehicle that is GLUED together. Scary.
July 21st, 2008 la 10:21 am
Thank God physics doesn’t work on faith.
July 21st, 2008 la 10:31 am
Screw hybrids with technology like this, it’s the ultimate city car. With the amount of fender benders that happen downtown, the vehicle being mostly glued should make repairs easier and less costly. Adhesive technology has made it a long way, but I am unsure on it’s capability for highway driving (even though no matter what car your driving your taking a risk anyways). If human kind was meant to drive we would have been born with wheels. I hope we advance this technology, but if you enjoy breathing in your smog… all the power to ya.
July 21st, 2008 la 1:01 pm
Neat concept and kudos for innovation, but aside from the above mentioned question about the fuel tank being punctured I just can’t put a lot of faith in a vehicle that is GLUED together. Scary.
Glue? Did we say glue? We meant “chemical solder”.
Seriously, though, there is some amazingly strong glue today. I’m less worried about how well the car holds together and more afraid of how it will end in a collision. That car just doesn’t look like it could take a solid hit from a Prius, much less an SUV, before crumpling like a plastic cup.
Given that India’s bumper-to-bumper traffic doesn’t give a lot of headroom for big accidents, this might not be a problem. In the States, it’s looking less safe.
That said, it could BECOME safe easily enough. And increasing the size of the engine or the air tank could power a bigger, heavier car. When a fill-up on the existing model only costs $2, I’m sure a good engineer could trade fuel economy for extra features and still come in with a vehicle that stays under $10.
It’s not the car I’d want to buy, I’ll admit. But it absolutely screams with potential for innovation. Where was this car 20 years ago?
July 22nd, 2008 la 3:17 am
the innovation is in the tanks. they splodey without a lethal blast of metal. they tear in strips with a lethal blast of air, perhaps? i’m stupid-in-love with air car.