Compressed Air Cars

Compressed air cars are powered by simple air pressure. The air is compressed and stored on the compressed air cars. When the air is released, it propels the vehicle. Currently, compressed air vehicles are not available on the market, but they are in development and have been for several years. It's expected that the compressed air cars will be released to the general public in a relatively short amount of time.

Compressed Air for Driving

In a compressed air car, an electric pump condenses air into a tank where it is stored at very high pressures. This is stored energy, much like a battery, but without any chemicals. The air is untreated as well. When the air leaves the tank, it presses on the pistons of the car's engine and the engine runs. In a combustion engine found in a petrol car, small explosions of fuel move the pistons. In a compressed air car, the air moves the pistons without emissions and with dramatic efficiency.

The electric pumps of the compressed air car have to be recharged, but the compressed air cars are plug-ins and can be plugged into a standard electrical outlet. Although there is electricity involved, the compressed air car is not considered a hybrid.

Driving Compressed Air Cars

The compressed air cars are expected to hit top speeds of 28 kilometers per liter and allow travel up to a range of 160 kilometers before needing to recharge. This is higher than most electric cars. The only emissions of a compressed air car are cold air and the simple functions of the engine are easy to understand and not especially susceptible to damage from batteries or combustion. The few compressed air cars currently on the market are very inexpensive as well making this future technology affordable.