20

Jul

While GM And Ford Were Holding Their Dicks

Posted by MGK  Published in David Suzuki Says You're Bad, The Miscellaneous Sciences And Crap Like That

…Tata Motors developed the world’s first commercially mass-produced car run off compressed air.

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leapetra said on July 20th, 2008 at 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.

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Steph said on July 20th, 2008 at 2:08 pm

Hee hee. “Dicks”. Hee hee. “Tata”.

(snort)

(snicker)

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Chris Russell said on July 21st, 2008 at 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.

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Jev said on July 21st, 2008 at 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.

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OddKing said on July 21st, 2008 at 10:21 am

Thank God physics doesn’t work on faith.

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Gauldar said on July 21st, 2008 at 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.

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Zifnab said on July 21st, 2008 at 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?

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John said on July 22nd, 2008 at 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.

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Kredit said on October 2nd, 2008 at 8:56 am

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