Compressed Air Cars: How does an Air Car Work

In an effort to make a pollution-free car, car manufacturers are experimenting with different energy sources that can be used to power environmentally clean cars. Solar, electric and hydrogen fuel-cell powered cars are the fruits of the labor undertaken in this direction. Now, car manufacturers are using compressed air to propel cars.

How does an air car work?

Compressed air cars make use of one of the properties of gas, that is, it can be compressed and stored. When such a gas is released, it expands. The compressed air is stored at high pressure in a tank on-board the compressed air car. When an air powered car accelerator is depressed, it opens a valve on the compressed air tank. The opening of the valve releases compressed air into the cylinder housing the piston. The compressed air expands in the cylinder and exerts pressure on the piston. The piston can move up and down or in forward and backward directions inside the cylinder.

In a gasoline or diesel engine, when the mixture of the gas and air is burned it expands and exerts pressure on the piston and sets it in motion. In an air car, a connecting rod connects the piston to the crankshaft. When the piston moves up and down, the connecting rod transfers the velocity and force created by this motion of the piston to the crankshaft, which rotates and converts the pressure exerted by the compressed air on the piston into mechanical motion. The crankshaft is connected to wheels, and its rotations sets the wheels in motion and enabling the car to accelerate using compressed air.

Compressed air cars are not being used commercially as yet, but there are plans to make them available to the consumers. A French company, Motor Development International (MDI) has developed a compressed air engine (CAE). An air car using this engine is expected to use 3200 cubic feet of compressed air to travel 90.6 kilometers.

An on-board air compressor in an air car, is used to compress the air, which can be used to propel the car. It takes a couple of hours to completely fill the air-tank of an air car. The on-board air compressor can be plugged into an electric supply to help operate it. When an air car is in motion and crosses a set speed limit, the air compressor kicks in to replenish the compressed air in the tank. It works on gasoline and produces carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, which are known pollutants in the environment. The disadvantage of having an environmentally safe air powered car is its limited operating range.

The availability of petroleum-based fuel is diminishing day-by-day because of the rate at which we are consuming it. It is a cause of worry because we cannot replenish it. Rising cost of petroleum-based fuel is also a cause of worry for everyone, especially for gasoline-propelled vehicle owners. It is compelling motorists to look for better options available in the market. In such circumstances, the compressed air car can prove to be a sought-after option for many.