A radical new car is due to release in the market as early as next year. It is called the air car which works on a system that runs on compressed air. The car uses the expansion of compressed air, similar to the expansion of steam in a locomotive, in an internal combustion engine with special hydraulics to generate power. In a hybrid-air model, compressed air can be combined with petrol as a back-up for longer journeys and high speed cruising.
It is estimated that the air car could possibly reduce fuel costs by as much as 80 per cent, as there is an ingenious system to restore the energy normally lost when decelerating or braking. With signi_cantly less reliance on fossil fuel, there will be less toxic emissions and our cities will become much greener. Moreover, drivers do not need to worry about running out of compressed air as an intelligent device is in place to replenish itself automatically. Another advantage is that, unlike the hybrid car, the air car does not require expensive lithium-ion batteries.
However, what if the air car gets involved in an accident? Will the air tank explode? It is vital to resolve the issues involving storing and handling of high-pressure tanks before the air car can truly be seen as the most environmentally friendly vehicle on the road.
| JPC Monthly Newsletter | |
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