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Originally Posted by (floridian,) http://www.theaircar.comNo pollution? The energy to fill the cyclinders has to come from somewhere. It could be wind or solar or the like, but only when the electrical generators we have now are replaced.<hr size="1" /></blockquote><span class='postcolor'>[font=verdana][color=navy]Excellent point. When exploring new and exciting technologies, we shouldn’t delude ourselves into thinking that just because the immediate power supply isn’t fossil-fuel powered that we’re out of the woods. Compressed air doesn't grow on trees. It‘s generated by High Pressure Air Compressors, and they generate a fair amount of pollution themselves (the ones I worked with leaked like SIV's and had to have the oil replaced every six hours of operation - on a good day!) One should also consider that containers of compressed air leak, which in the end means a greater electrical load. Since most of the power grid is still fossil-fuel powered, I don't think Air-Powered cars will do much to reduce overall pollution. But you're right, it can get some of it out of the cities. The question is, is it worth it?
Incidentally, Fuel Cells have exactly the same problem. Since they're hydrogen-powered, and hydrogen requires a power source to be freed, all we’re doing is transferring the electrical load to the power grid, which is still mostly fossil-fuel powered.[/font][/color]