 |
|
EV WORLD EXCLUSIVE ARTICLE |
AirCar inventor Guy Negre with his latest variant, the AirPod, a 4-wheel, 3-4 passenger compressed air shuttle vehicle that will be built in Nice, France and cost $7,000.
|
AirPod: The Other Electric Car
By EV World
There is more than one way to skin an AirCat
< Previous Page | << To Start
Open Access Article Originally Published: October 28, 2008
Vencat explained to EV World.com that he is exploring demonstration programs in New York City, Nantucket and Los Angeles. While the AirFrance/KLM demonstration projects will employ drivers, the U.S.-based initiatives would explore the viability of AirPods and advanced car-sharing telematics. technology that exists and is in the hands of Daimler.
Perhaps most promising of all is the anticipated price: $7,000US. That will be a hard price to beat for other Autolib contenders. Initially, AirPods will be built in Nice, France.
Below are photos from the official unveiling.
END STORY
|
| Times Article Viewed: 16656 |
|
|
|
Reader Comments
12 comments so far...
28-Oct-2008
64658
| |
very well, but how does the eroi, tco, lca, wtw efficiency compare to other options, like BEV. Also with various RES?
Posted by: Emil Möller
|
|
28-Oct-2008
64665
| |
Good questions, Emil. Since I believe you're in the EU, care to go ask Guy those questions? ;-)
Posted by: Bill Moore
|
|
01-Nov-2008
64718
| |
This is all well and good for transfering passengers and goods inside an airport, but where is the outside (real) world crash protection? There are electric passenger vehicles already moving people and goods in airports, and Isetta already demonstrated how bad an idea a front opening door can be from a safety aspect. Cute idea, and cute aesthetic design, but not much more at this point, I'm afraid.
Posted by: skip schwarzman
|
|
01-Nov-2008
64721
| |
Ingress and egress could be issues with this particular vehicle could be issues (particularly trying to crawl into the back seats).
The issue isn't necessarily the configuration but the mode of propulsion. Compressed air might not be as efficient as a BEV but it could be a valuable part of the mix.
Posted by: Bill Gallip
|
|
02-Nov-2008
64735
| |
When and where can I purchase an AirPod? "
Totally Stoked"!!!!!
mt
Posted by: Michael Thibodeaux
|
|
29-Oct-2008
64670
| |
The entry and egress seems rather clumsy for larger and/or older adults, plus the door might be in the way of taller ones. There might be better designs to carry this type propulsion system.
Posted by: David Park
|
|
29-Oct-2008
64677
| |
One problem with all compressed-gas technologies is that much of the energy used to compress the gas manifests as heat - which WILL eventually leak out into the environment. Thus it's certain that the overall energy efficiency will be much less than 100%.
OTOH, when the gas is depressurized, it gets cold. In much the same way as you get heat "for free" from an IC engine, you'll be able to get air conditioning "for free" (sort of - more honest would be "at no extra cost").
Posted by: Ben C
|
|
15-Nov-2008
64909
| |
Yes it is! The future is truly here! If I had the money I'd buy one customize it with nice floor mats..This company are at least pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
Posted by: kurt daniel
|
|
31-Oct-2008
64712
| |
Been following this company since 2000 - I'd like to see the answers to the other comments. Anyone know whatever became of the Argentina(?) manufacturing plant that was proposed? I thought it would be great to have manufacturing plants in small rural towns like Eureka, CA where unemployment is sooooooooo high - maybe the new administration should be weighing in on this one. Why the hell aren't we moving faster in this regard?
Posted by: Kay Brown
|
|
11-Nov-2008
64846
| |
Woww - cute as a button. My understanding of the air car design is that the compressed air exhaust is released into the passenger compartment, and this can provide cooling for passengers. Having read the history of air car motors, and how a three phase air motor evolved, it is quite effecient. Sure it isn't fast, but it can meet my retirement needs - during day light hours. I don't ever want to be so dependent on gas again!
Posted by: Darrell Brown
|
|
13-Nov-2008
64884
| |
Lots of announcements. Never any production vehicles. It's been this way for a decade. Always "next spring" or "year after next".
No info has ever been made available on things like well-to-wheel efficiency. Nor even such basics as "what is the furthest distance that any of your prototypes have ever run?" Lots of claims of great performance that have never been seen in real life, even in a one-off prototype.
Tata Motors now says that they are nowhere near production and that the air car they licensed from MDI is in early development phase. Quite different than the articles published early this year saying that production would start as soon as this year.
Is this a real car or simply an investment scam??
------------
The basic problem has to do with energy storage density. Compressed air has much lower energy storage than do even lead acid batteries. That's why we have electric vehicles on the road while the air car keeps getting talked about, but never built.
Posted by: Charlie A.
|
|
30-Dec-2008
65340
| |
Sound fantastic, can it be driven on the streets
Posted by: Eddie Granados
|
|
|
|
|
